Michael A. Raynor

Michael Arthur Raynor (born 1962) is an American Foreign Service Officer specializing in relations with Africa who currently serves as the United States Ambassador to Senegal and the United States Ambassador to Guinea-Bissau. He was the United States Ambassador to Ethiopia[1] until January 2021.[2] He previously served as the Director of the Office of Career Development and Assignments in the Bureau of Human Resources of the United States Department of State.[3][4] Raynor served as United States Ambassador to Benin from 2012 to 2015 after being nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Prior to his post in Benin, he was deputy executive director and then executive director of the Bureau of African Affairs.

Michael A. Raynor
United States Ambassador to Senegal
Assumed office
March 10, 2022
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byTulinabo S. Mushingi
United States Ambassador to Guinea-Bissau
Designate
Assuming office
TBD
PresidentJoe Biden
SucceedingTulinabo S. Mushingi
United States Ambassador to Ethiopia
In office
September 29, 2017 – January 20, 2021
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byPatricia M. Haslach
Succeeded byGeeta Pasi
United States Ambassador to Benin
In office
September 13, 2012 – May 29, 2015
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byJames Knight
Succeeded byLucy Tamlyn
Personal details
Born1962 (age 59–60)
Spouse(s)Kathleen
Children2
Alma materLafayette College
Columbia University

Early life and education

Raynor earned his bachelor's degree in 1984 from Lafayette College, going on to obtain a master's degree in international affairs from Columbia University.[5]

Career

Raynor is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, having joined the United States Foreign Service in 1988.[6] He has served eight U.S. missions overseas, including six in Africa. He has been assigned to the U.S. embassy in Brazzaville, the consular officer at the embassy in Luxembourg, and the U.S. embassies in Djibouti City, Conakry, and Windhoek. He was a desk officer for Zimbabwe before becoming legislative management officer and special assistant in the Bureau of Legislative Affairs. Raynor was the management counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Harare from 2004 to 2008.[5]

After returning from his post in Harare, Raynor was named deputy executive director of the Bureau of African Affairs in 2008. In 2010, he was elevated to executive director.

Ambassador to Benin

On December 15, 2011, Raynor was nominated by President Barack Obama to become United States Ambassador to Benin. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate and assumed the ambassadorship on September 13, 2012. Raynor left his post in Benin on May 29, 2015, and became Director of the Office of Career Development and Assignments in the Bureau of Human Resources at the United States Department of State.[5] In May 2017, President Donald Trump nominated Raynor to become United States Ambassador to Ethiopia.[6] He was confirmed to the position by the U.S. Senate on August 3, 2017.

Ambassador to Senegal

On April 15, 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Raynor to be the next United States Ambassador to Senegal and serve concurrently as the United States Ambassador to Guinea-Bissau.[7] On August 5, 2021, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.[8] On October 19, 2021, his nomination was reported favorably out of committee.[9] On December 18, 2021, the United States Senate confirmed his nomination by voice vote.[10] He presented his credentials to the President of Senegal Macky Sall on March 10, 2022.[11]

Personal life

Raynor speaks French.

See also

References
  1. "PN519 — Michael Arthur Raynor — Department of State". U.S. Congress. August 3, 2017. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
  2. Firew, Eskinder (January 26, 2021). "Departing US Envoy Warns Ethiopia Against Violence". VOA News. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  3. Fantahun, Arefayné (May 27, 2017). "Trump nominated career diplomat as ambassador to Ethiopia". Ethiopia Observer. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  4. "PN519 — Michael Arthur Raynor — Department of State". Congress.gov. Retrieved May 29, 2017.
  5. Bewig, Matt (March 10, 2012). "Ambassador to Benin: Who Is Michael Raynor?". AllGov. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  6. "President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Personnel to Key Administration Posts". The White House. May 22, 2017. Archived from the original on May 23, 2017. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  7. "President Biden Announces His Intent to Nominate Nine Career Members of the Senior Foreign Service as Ambassadors" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: The White House. April 15, 2021. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  8. "PN383 - Nomination of Michael Raynor for Department of State, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". www.congress.gov. October 19, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  9. "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.
  10. "PN383 - Nomination of Michael Raynor for Department of State, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". www.congress.gov. December 18, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
  11. "L'ambassadeur Michael Raynor présente ses lettres de créances au Président Macky Sall" (in French). United States Department of State. March 10, 2022. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
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