Eric W. Kneedler is an American diplomat who has served as the United States ambassador to Rwanda since October 2023.
Eric W. Kneedler | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Ambassador to Rwanda | |
| Assumed office October 18, 2023 | |
| President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Peter H. Vrooman |
| Personal details | |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Pomona College (BA) Johns Hopkins University (MA) |
Early life and education
editKneedler earned his Bachelor’s degree from Pomona College, and his Master’s degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.[1]
Career
editKneedler is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service with the rank of Minister-Counselor. He previously served as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, where he also served as Chargé d’Affaires, ad interim. Kneedler had also served as Counselor for Political Affairs at the Embassy in Nairobi, and held the same role at the U.S. Embassy in Manila, Philippines. Previously, Kneelder served as the Deputy Political Counselor at the U.S Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, and as a Political Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia. Other assignments include Staff Assistant in the Bureau of European Affairs, a Senior Watch Officer in the State Department’s Operations Center, and various positions at the U.S. Embassy in Port Louis, Mauritius, and at the U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong.[1]
U.S ambassador to Rwanda
editOn August 3, 2022, President Joe Biden nominated Kneedler to be the ambassador to Rwanda.[1][2][3][4][5] His nomination was not acted upon for the remainder of the year, and was returned to Biden on January 3, 2023.[6]
President Biden renominated Kneedler the following day. Hearings on his nomination were held before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on March 1, 2023. The committee favorably reported his nomination on April 27, 2023. His nomination was confirmed by the full United States Senate via voice vote on July 27, 2023.[7] He presented his credentials to Rwandan President Paul Kagame on October 18, 2023.[8]
Personal life
editHis foreign languages include Thai, Indonesian, French,[1] Cantonese, and Italian.[9]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "President Biden Announces Key Nominees". The White House. August 3, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
- ^ Wambui, Mary (August 4, 2022). "Biden nominates Kneedler as ambassador to Rwanda". Nation.Africa. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
- ^ McGoldrick, Gillian (January 22, 2021). "Lancaster native appointed interim U.S. ambassador to Kenya as countries negotiate trade deal". Lancaster Online. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
- ^ Yakubu, Mohammed (August 4, 2022). "Joe Biden Announces Former US Kenyan Emissary As New Ambassador To Rwanda". Transcontinental Times. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
- ^ Iliza, Ange (August 4, 2022). "Joe Biden nominates career diplomat Eric Kneedler as US ambassador to Rwanda". The East African. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
- ^ "PN2453 - Nomination of Eric W. Kneedler for Department of State, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". www.congress.gov. August 3, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
- ^ "PN38 — Eric W. Kneedler — Department of State 118th Congress (2023-2024)". US Congress. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
- ^ @USAmbRwanda (October 18, 2023). "Ambassador Eric Kneedler presented his credentials today to President Paul Kagame" (Tweet). Retrieved October 24, 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Kneedler, Eric W. - Republic of Rwanda - August 2022". United States Department of State. Retrieved October 18, 2023.