Robert F. Godec

Robert Frank Godec (born 1956)[1] is an American diplomat who has served as the United States ambassador to Thailand since October 2022. He formerly served as the United States ambassador to Kenya from 2013 to 2019 and the United States ambassador to Tunisia from 2006 to 2009.[2][3][4] He also served as acting assistant secretary for the Bureau of African Affairs from January to September 2021.[5]

Robert Frank Godec
United States Ambassador to Thailand
Assumed office
October 7, 2022
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byMichael G. DeSombre
Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs
Acting
In office
January 20, 2021 – September 30, 2021
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byTibor P. Nagy Jr.
Succeeded byMary Catherine Phee
United States Ambassador to Kenya
In office
February 15, 2013 – February 1, 2019
PresidentBarack Obama
Donald Trump
Preceded byScott Gration
Succeeded byKyle McCarter
United States Ambassador to Tunisia
In office
January 17, 2007 – July 29, 2009
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Barack Obama
Preceded byWilliam J. Hudson
Succeeded byGordon Gray III
Personal details
Born1956 (age 66–67)
Rantoul, Illinois, U.S.
SpouseLori G. Magnusson
EducationUniversity of Virginia (BA)
Yale University (MA)

Early life and education

Godec was born in Rantoul, Illinois, in 1956. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in foreign affairs from the University of Virginia in 1979 and a Master of Arts in international relations from Yale University.[6][7][8]

Career

Godec is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service with the rank of career minister; He has served in the service since 1985. He serves as senior coordinator for Afghanistan in the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration at the U.S. Department of State. Previously, he was acting assistant secretary of state for the Bureau of African Affairs. He also served as principal deputy assistant secretary and as deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of African Affairs. Earlier, Godec was deputy commandant and international affairs advisor at the National War College. Godec also served as principal deputy coordinator for counterterrorism in the Bureau of Counterterrorism in the Department of State. Godec has also served as deputy assistant secretary of state in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs and was deputy coordinator for the transition in Iraq. He served as acting deputy chief of mission and minister counselor for Economic Affairs in the U.S. embassy in Pretoria, South Africa. His other positions include economic counselor at U.S. embassy in Nairobi, Kenya; assistant office director for Thailand and Burma in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs; and director for southeast asian affairs at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.[9]

United States ambassador to Tunisia

Godec had previously served as United States ambassador to Tunisia. In December 2010 a number of classified diplomatic cables written by Godec from Tunisia in 2008 and 2009[10] were released by WikiLeaks and published by Al Akhbar in Beirut.[11] Many of them were highly critical of the public and personal life of the Tunisian president, Zine el Abidine Ben Ali, and his family. Godec mentioned high-level corruption, a "sclerotic" regime, and deep dislike or even hatred for the president's wife, Leila Trabelsi, and her family.[11] There were later suggestions in the press that his comments could have fuelled the Tunisian Revolution, which began in December 2010 and led to the flight of Ben Ali to Saudi Arabia in January 2011.[12]

United States ambassador to Kenya

Godec was United States ambassador to Kenya from 2013 to 2019. He was also Chargé d’Affaires a.i. at U.S. Embassy Nairobi, Kenya in 2012.

United States ambassador to Thailand

On April 1, 2022, President Joe Biden nominated Godec to be the United States ambassador to Thailand.[9] Hearings on his nomination were held before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on July 13, 2022. The committee favorably reported his nomination to the Senate floor on August 3, 2022. He was confirmed by the Senate via voice vote on August 4, 2022.[13] Godec presented his credentials to King Vajiralongkorn on October 7, 2022.[14]

Awards and recognitions

Godec has won two Presidential Meritorious Service Awards, numerous Senior Performance Awards, and a Distinguished Honor Award.[9]

Personal life

Since 1986, Godec has been married to Lori G. Magnusson.[6][15] He speaks French and German.[9]

References
  1. Robert Frank Godec (1956–)
  2. Matt Bewig ([n.d.]) U.S. ambassador to Kenya: Who is Robert Godec?. AllGov.com. Accessed March 13, 2015.
  3. Ambassador Robert F. Godec. Embassy of the United States, Nairobi, Kenya. Accessed March 13, 2015.
  4. Robert F. Godec: U.S. Ambassador to Kenya. Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, for the U.S. Department of State. Accessed March 13, 2015.
  5. Ambassador Robert F. Godec: Acting Assistant Secretary - Bureau of African Affairs. Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, for the U.S. Department of State. Accessed January 25, 2021.
  6. "Godec, Robert". www.allgov.com. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  7. "Robert F. Godec". United States Department of State. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  8. "| Undergraduate, U.Va". college.as.virginia.edu. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  9. "President Biden Announces Key Nominees". The White House. April 1, 2022. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  10. [Robert Godec] (December 7, 2010). US embassy cables: Tunisia - a US foreign policy conundrum. The Guardian. Accessed March 2015.
  11. Ian Black (December 7, 2010). WikiLeaks cables: Tunisia blocks site reporting 'hatred' of first lady. The Guardian. Accessed March 2015.
  12. [s.n.] (January 15, 2011). Wikileaks might have triggered Tunis’ revolution. Dubai: Al Arabiya News. Accessed March 2015.
  13. "PN1937 - Nomination of Robert F. Godec for Department of State, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". www.congress.gov. August 4, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  14. "Ambassador Robert F. Godec presented his Letters of Credence to His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua". United States Department of State. October 11, 2022. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  15. "Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 7 - EXECUTIVE REPORTS OF COMMITTEES". www.govinfo.gov. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
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