Washington, D.C. (July 15, 2010) – The White House Office of the Press Secretary announced last week that President Barack Obama has nominated two individuals to Department of State posts. The President states that he intends to nominate Kristie A. Kenney as Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand; and Jo Ellen Powell as Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.
“I am proud to nominate these accomplished individuals to represent our nation abroad,” said Obama. “I am grateful they have agreed to serve in these important roles, and I look forward to working with them to strengthen our global partnerships.”
Kenney is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service. She most recently served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of the Philippines. Prior to that, she served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Ecuador.
Kenney’s Washington, D.C assignments have included serving as the Executive Secretary of the Department of State, Director of the State Department Operations Center, and as a member of the National Security Council staff under President Clinton. She also served in Argentina, Switzerland and Jamaica. She received a Master’s Degree from Tulane University and a B.A. from Clemson University.
Powell is a career member of the Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor. She most recently served as Consul General in Frankfurt, Germany.
Prior to that Ms. Powell was the Executive Director of the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Director of the Office of Employee Relations, and Management Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Canberra, Australia.
Other overseas assignments include France, Italy, Lebanon, and Jordan. In Washington, Ms. Powell served in the Executive Secretariat and the European Bureau Executive Office. She received her B.A. from Centre College in Kentucky.
