Marie C. Damour Explained

Marie C. Damour
Ambassador From:United States
Country:Fiji
President:Joe Biden
Term Start:November 24, 2022
Predecessor:Joseph Cella
Ambassador From1:United States
Country1:Kiribati
President1:Joe Biden
Term Start1:November 30, 2022
Predecessor1:Joseph Cella
Ambassador From2:United States
Country2:Tonga
President2:Joe Biden
Term Start2:December 6, 2022
Predecessor2:Joseph Cella
Ambassador From3:United States
Country3:Nauru
President3:Joe Biden
Term Start3:February 8, 2023
Predecessor3:Joseph Cella
Ambassador From4:United States
Country4:Tuvalu
President4:Joe Biden
Term Start4:February 15, 2023
Predecessor4:Joseph Cella
Office5:United States Consul General to Ho Chi Minh City
Termstart5:August 2019
Termend5:August 2022
President5:Donald Trump
Joe Biden
Nationality:American
Education:College of William and Mary (BA)

Marie C. Damour is an American diplomat who is the current Ambassador to Fiji, serving concurrently as the ambassador to Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu. She previously served as Consul General of the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.[1]

Early life and education

Damour earned her B.A. from the College of William and Mary.

Career

Damour is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, with the rank of Minister-Counselor. Her positions within the Department of State include the Director of the Office of Maritime Southeast Asian Affairs in the State Department's Bureau of East Asia and Pacific Affairs; Director of the Office of Policy Coordination and Public Affairs in the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs; and the Deputy Chief of Mission, as well as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim at the U.S. Embassy in Wellington, New Zealand. She also served as Minister Counselor for Consular Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia, Brazil; the Chief of Non-Immigrant Visa Services, and then Chief of Visa Services at the U.S. Embassy in London, England; the Consular Chief at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, and the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Ambassador to Fiji

On May 25, 2022, President Joe Biden nominated Damour to be the United States Ambassador to Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga and Tuvalu.[2] Hearings on her nomination were held before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on July 13, 2022. The committee favorably reported her nomination on July 19, 2022. On August 4, 2022, her nomination was confirmed by the full United States Senate via voice vote.[3] Damour presented her credentials to President of Fiji Ratu Wiliame Katonivere on November 24, 2022,[4] President of Kiribati Taneti Maamau on November 30, 2022,[5] King of Tonga Tupou VI on December 6, 2022,[6] President of Nauru Russ Kun on February 8, 2023,[7] and Governor-General of Tuvalu Tofiga Vaevalu Falani on February 15, 2023.[8]

Personal life

Damour speaks French, Vietnamese, and Portuguese.

References

|-|-|-|-

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Consul General Marie C. Damour . U.S Embassy & Consulate in Vietnam . 1 June 2022.
  2. Web site: President Biden Announces Key Nominees . The White House . May 25, 2022 . 1 June 2022.
  3. Web site: PN2203 — Marie C. Damour — Department of State 117th Congress (2021-2022) . US Congress . 1 June 2022.
  4. Web site: U.S. Ambassador to Fiji Marie Damour Presents Her Credentials . 2022-11-24 . United States Department of State . 2022-11-24.
  5. USEmbassySuva . U.S. Embassy Suva . 1597787693420879876 . Ambassador Marie Damour is in Kiribati this week to present her credentials to His Excellency President Taneti Maamau. 2022-11-29.
  6. Web site: U.S. Ambassador to Tonga Marie Damour Presents Her Credentials . 2022-12-06 . United States Department of State . 2022-12-07.
  7. USAmbSuva . 1623169806135398403 . Marie C. . Damour . Today, I presented my credentials to His Excellency President Russ Joseph Kun. . 2023-02-14.
  8. USAmbSuva . 1625646185515024386 . Marie C. . Damour . Pleased to meet Governor-General Rev Tofiga Vaevalu Falani to present my credentials as U.S. Ambassador to Tuvalu. 2023-02-16.