Kenneth H. Merten

Kenneth H. Merten (born 1961) is an American diplomat who is the United States ambassador to Bulgaria since April 2023. Merten has served in various positions in the Department of State beginning in 1987, most notably as ambassador to Haiti from 2009 to 2012, ambassador to Croatia from 2012 to 2015, and special coordinator for Haiti from 2015 to 2017.

Kenneth Merten
United States Ambassador to Bulgaria
Assumed office
April 7, 2023
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byHerro Mustafa
Special Coordinator for Haiti
In office
August 17, 2015 – January 2017
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byThomas C. Adams
United States Ambassador to Croatia
In office
October 30, 2012 – July 18, 2015
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byJames Foley
Succeeded byJulieta Valls Noyes
United States Ambassador to Haiti
In office
August 25, 2009 – July 20, 2012
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byJanet Sanderson
Succeeded byPamela White
Personal details
Born1961 (age 61–62)
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
SpouseSusan Merten
Children2
Alma materMiami University

Early life

Merten was born in St. Louis, Missouri, but moved to Hudson, Ohio when he was twelve, and considers Hudson his home.[1]

He attended Hudson Junior High School and the Walsh Jesuit High School and credits a history teacher named Mark Massa with being influential in his choice of career.[1] Merten graduated from Walsh Jesuit in 1979, and went to Miami University, where he graduated from in 1983 with a BA in diplomacy and foreign affairs.[1] He has also studied at Aix-Marseille University, the University of Graz and the American University.[1][2]

Diplomatic career

Merten joined the United States Foreign Service in 1987.[3] He holds the rank of Career Minister. Since then, he has served both at Department of State facilities in Washington, DC and international assignments.[3] Prior to his appointment as ambassador to Haiti, his international experience consisted of assignments in Paris, Brussels and Bonn.[3] He also served in Haiti as vice consul and economic counselor between 1988 and 1990 and between 1998 and 2000 respectively.[1] In 2009, he was appointed to the position of ambassador to Haiti, and began his duties as such on 24 August 2009.[1][3] In 2012, he was appointed to the position of ambassador to Croatia and began his duties as such on 30 October 2012.[4]

As Haiti Special Coordinator during the 2015-2016 Haitian presidential election Merten traveled to Haiti and spoke about an upcoming verification commission report on fraud in the election, saying "We hope it is very, very quick and does not change the results of the election" in April 2016.[5][6] He was joined by other U.S. officials pushing for quickly accepted elections. He left the post in January 2017 during the presidential transition of Donald Trump.[7]

From 2017 to 2019, Merten served as the acting principal deputy assistant secretary for the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs.[7] From 2019 to 2022, he served as the principal deputy assistant secretary for the Office of the Director General of the Foreign Service;[7] during 2021, he also served as the senior bureau official for the Bureau of Global Talent Management.[8]

Nomination as U.S. ambassador to Bulgaria

On June 8, 2022, President Joe Biden nominated Merten to serve as the United States ambassador to Bulgaria.[9] On November 29, 2022, hearings on his nomination were held before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. On December 7, 2022, the committee favorably reported the nomination to the Senate. On December 13, 2022, his nomination was confirmed in the Senate by voice vote.[10] He was sworn in by Acting Deputy Secretary John R. Bass on February 3, 2023,[11] and presented his credentials to President Rumen Radev on April 7, 2023.[12]

Honors and awards

In July 2012, President Michel Martelly of Haiti awarded Merten with the National Order of Honour and Merit to the rank of Grand Cross for his diplomatic excellence and all his works done for Haiti.[13][14]

Personal life

Merten is married to Susan Greenman Merten, with whom he has had two daughters, Caryl and Elisabeth.[1] He speaks Haitian Creole, French, German and Spanish.[9]

References
  1. "Kenneth Merten, U.S. ambassador to Haiti, calls Hudson, Ohio, his home". Cleveland Plain Dealer. 6 February 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
  2. "Kenneth H. Merten, U.S. Ambassador to Haiti, arrives in Port-au-Prince". US embassy in Port-au-Prince. 24 August 2009. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
  3. "Kenneth H. Merten". US Department of State. Archived from the original on 30 August 2009. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
  4. "Ambassador | Embassy of the United States Zagreb, Croatia". Archived from the original on 2015-06-22. Retrieved 2015-06-21.
  5. Johnston, Jake. "Election Verification Results Expected this Weekend: What to Expect and What Comes Next?". cepr.net. Retrieved 2016-06-01.
  6. "Haiti Preps for Election Verification Through Continued U.S. Pressure". www.ijdh.org. Retrieved 2016-06-01.
  7. "Kenneth Merten". LinkedIn. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
  8. "Kenneth H. Merten". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
  9. "President Biden Announces Key Nominees". The White House. 8 June 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  10. "PN2253 - Nomination of Kenneth Merten for Department of State, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". www.congress.gov. 8 June 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  11. U.S. Embassy Sofia [@USEmbassySofia] (February 6, 2023). "Ambassador Designate Kenneth Merten was sworn in on February 3, 2023, as the next U.S. Ambassador to Bulgaria" (Tweet). Retrieved 2023-02-08 – via Twitter.
  12. "New US ambassador to Bulgaria presents credentials to President". The Sofia Globe. 2023-04-07. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  13. Press, ed. (15 August 2015). "Haiti - Politic : Return of Kenneth H. Merten in Haiti". Haiti Libre. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  14. Staff, ed. (22 July 2012). "Haiti's Michel Martelly Gives Award to Outgoing United States Ambassador". Caribbean Journal. Retrieved 14 March 2016.

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