Marc Ostfield | |
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United States Ambassador to Paraguay | |
Assumed office March 9, 2022 | |
President | Joe Biden |
Preceded by | M. Lee McClenny |
Personal details | |
Education | University of Pennsylvania (BA, MS, PhD) |
Marc Ostfield is an American academic and diplomat who has served as United States ambassador to Paraguay since March 2022.
Education
Ostfield earned a Bachelor of Arts in women's studies, a Master of Science in human sexuality education, and a Doctor of Philosophy in communication from the University of Pennsylvania.[1]
Career
Ostfield began his career as a curriculum supervisor at GMHC in 1987. In 1988 and 1989, he was the director of health education at New York University. From 1989 to 1993, he was a director at FHI 360. Ostfield worked as an independent consultant from 1995 to 2002 before joining the United States Department of State, first serving as a senior advisor in the Office of International Health and Biodefense. In 2009, he served as a senior foreign affairs advisor in the Office of Science and Technology Cooperation. From 2009 to 2013, he served as director of the Office of Policy and Global Issues in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs. From 2013 to 2017, he was deputy director of the Foreign Service Institute. In 2017 and 2018, he served as acting director of the FSI. In 2018, he became ombudsman of the Department of State.[2]
Ambassador to Paraguay
On June 15, 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Ostfield to be the next United States Ambassador to Paraguay.[3] On June 23, 2021, his nomination was sent to the Senate.[4] On August 5, 2021, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.[5] On October 19, 2021, his nomination was reported favorably out of committee.[6] On December 18, 2021, the United States Senate confirmed him by a voice vote.[5] He presented his credentials to President of Paraguay Mario Abdo Benítez on March 9, 2022.[7] The government of Paraguay on August 8, 2024 effectively ordered Ostfield to leave in response to the US imposing sanctions against the cigarette manufacturer Tabacalera del Este and four other firms for supporting the illicit enrichment of former president Horacio Cartes.[8]
Personal life
Ostfield speaks French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Arabic.
References
- ^ "President Biden Announces His Intent to Nominate Nine More Individuals to Serve as Ambassadors". The White House. June 15, 2021. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
- ^ "Marc Ostfield". United States Department of State. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
- ^ "President Biden Announces His Intent to Nominate Nine More Individuals to Serve as Ambassadors" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: The White House. June 15, 2021.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ "Nominations Sent to the Senate" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: The White House. June 23, 2021.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b "PN734 - Nomination of Marc Ostfield for Department of State, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". www.congress.gov. October 19, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
- ^ "SFRC APPROVES 33 CRITICAL FOREIGN POLICY NOMINATIONS" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. October 19, 2021. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
- ^ Embajada de Estados Unidos en Paraguay [@laembajada] (March 9, 2022). "En ceremonia oficial realizada en el Palacio de López, el embajador Marc Ostfield presentó sus cartas credenciales al presidente Mario Abdo Benítez" (Tweet) (in Spanish). Retrieved March 11, 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Paraguay says it wants the US ambassador to leave the country in apparent protest over sanctions". AP News. August 9, 2024. Retrieved August 11, 2024.