Heather Variava

Heather Roach Variava is an American diplomat who is the nominee to be the US Ambassador to Laos.

Heather Roach Variava
United States Ambassador to Laos
Nominee
Assuming office
TBD
PresidentJoe Biden
SucceedingPeter Haymond
Personal details
NationalityAmerican
EducationGeorgetown University (BA)
University of Missouri, University of Sussex (MA)
National War College (MS)

Early life and education

Variava received a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. Variava also received master's degrees from the University of Missouri, the University of Sussex, and the National War College. In addition, she finished a fellowship with the International Women’s Forum.[1]

Career

Variava is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service with the rank of Minister-Counselor. She currently serves as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Manila, Philippines. Variava previously had stints as Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé d'Affaires, ad interim, at the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, as well as the U.S. Consul General in Surabaya, Indonesia. Domestically, Variava was the Director of the Office of Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives, and Bhutan in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, and also worked at the State Department Operations Center. Overseas assignments include postings at U.S. Missions in India, Mauritius, Vietnam, and Bangladesh.[1]

Ambassador to Laos

On February 13, 2023, President Joe Biden nominated Variava to be the next ambassador to Laos.[1] Hearings on her nomination were held before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on May 17, 2023. Her nomination was favorably reported by the committee on June 8, 2023, and is pending before the full Senate.[2]

Personal life

A native of Iowa, Variava speaks Indonesian, and has studied French, German, and Vietnamese.[1]

References
  1. "President Biden Announces Key Nominees". The White House. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  2. "PN309 — Heather Roach Variava — Department of State 118th Congress (2023-2024)". US Congress. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
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