Larry André Jr. Explained

Larry André Jr.
Ambassador From:United States
Country:Somalia
President:Joe Biden
Term Start:February 7, 2022
Term End:May 30, 2023[1]
Successor:Richard H. Riley IV
Ambassador From1:United States
Country1:Djibouti
President1:Donald Trump
Term Start1:February 19, 2018
Term End1:January 20, 2021
Predecessor1:Thomas P. Kelly III
Successor1:Jonathan Pratt
Ambassador From2:United States
Country2:Mauritania
Term Start2:November 3, 2014
Term End2:November 17, 2017
Predecessor2:Jo Ellen Powell
Successor2:Michael Dodman
President2:Barack Obama
Donald Trump
Birth Name:Larry Edward André Jr.
Education:Thunderbird School of Global Management (MBA)
Claremont McKenna College (BA)

Larry Edward André Jr. (born 1961) is a retired American diplomat and career member of the Senior Foreign Service who had served as the United States ambassador to Somalia from February 2022 to May 2023. He previously served as the United States ambassador to Djibouti from 2018 to 2021, and as the United States ambassador to Mauritania from 2014 to 2017.

Early life and education

André earned a Master of Business Administration from Thunderbird School of Global Management of Arizona State University and a Bachelor of Arts from Claremont McKenna College.

Career

André is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, with the rank of Minister-Counselor. He served as the United States Chargé d’Affaires ad interim at U.S. Embassy in Juba, South Sudan. He is a former ambassador to Djibouti and Mauritania. He has served as Director of the Office of the Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, and as Deputy Executive Director in the State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs, and was the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.[2]

André has served as a diplomat since 1990. He is a two-time Deputy Chief of Mission with appointments to nine American missions abroad, mostly in Africa. He has also held senior policy positions at the United States Department of State.[3] [4]

U.S. ambassador to Somalia

On April 15, 2021, President Joe Biden nominated André to be the next United States ambassador to Somalia.[5] The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held hearings on his nomination on June 9, 2021. The committee reported him favorably to the Senate floor on June 24, 2021. On December 18, 2021, the United States Senate confirmed his nomination by voice vote.[6] On January 29, 2022, he presented a copy of his credentials to Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdisaid Muse Ali.[7] On February 7, 2022, he presented his credentials to President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed.[8]

Awards and recognitions

He is the recipient of numerous State Department Awards, including the Director General Award for Reporting, and was recently recognized by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff with the Joint Distinguished Civilian Award.

Personal life

Andre speaks French.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mahadsanid Soomaaliya - Thank You, Somalia . 30 May 2023 .
  2. Web site: Larry Edward Andre Jr. (1961–). Department of State.
  3. News: President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Personnel to Key Administration Posts . 2 October 2017. . . September 2, 2017.
  4. News: Bewig . Matt. Ambassador to Mauritania: Who Is Larry André, Jr.?. 2 October 2017 . AllGov . November 23, 2013.
  5. President Biden Announces His Intent to Nominate Nine Career Members of the Senior Foreign Service as Ambassadors . April 15, 2021 . The White House . Washington, D.C. .
  6. Web site: December 18, 2021 . PN376 - Nomination of Larry Edward Andre Jr. for Department of State, 117th Congress (2021-2022) . January 8, 2022 . www.congress.gov.
  7. 1487682053608988672. US2SOMALIA. U.S. Embassy Mogadishu, Somalia. Yesterday Ambassador André presented a copy of his letter of credence to Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdisaid Muse Ali. 2022-02-03.
  8. 1490942232957964288. US2SOMALIA. U.S. Embassy Mogadishu, Somalia. Yesterday Ambassador André presented his credentials to H.E. President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed. 2022-02-11.