BIOGRAPHY Lino Gutierrez Ambassador, Argentina Term of Appointment: 09/08/2003 to present

Lino Gutierrez was sworn in as U.S. Ambassador to Argentina on September 8, 2003 and presented his credentials on October 1, 2003. A career diplomat, Ambassador Gutierrez entered the Foreign Service in 1977 and served in Latin America, Europe, and the Department of State.

His most recent position was as International Affairs Advisor at the National War College in July 2002. From August 1999 to July 2002, Ambassador Gutierrez served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the Department of State. From June 2001 to January 2002, Mr. Gutierrez was Acting Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs.

From November 1996 to July 1999 Mr. Gutierrez served as United States Ambassador to Nicaragua. During his tenure, Ambassador Gutierrez coordinated the U.S. relief effort in Nicaragua following the devastation of Hurricane Mitch in October 1998. He received President Clinton when he visited the hurricane-affected areas in March 1999, the second visit by a U.S. President to Nicaragua.

Mr. Gutierrez also served in Lisbon, Port-au-Prince, Grenada, Paris, and Nassau. In Washington, Mr. Gutierrez has served as Officer-in-Charge of Nicaraguan Affairs, Officer-in-Charge of Portuguese Affairs, and Director of the Office of Policy Planning, Coordination and Press in the Bureau of Inter-American Affairs.

A native of Havana, Cuba, Ambassador Gutierrez attended the University of Miami and the University of Alabama, where he received a B.A. in Political Science (1972) and an M.A. in Latin American Studies (1976). Between 1973 and 1975, he was a social studies teacher for the Dade County School System and the Urban League in Miami, Florida.

Ambassador Gutierrez is a recipient of the Department of State´s Distinguished Honor Award, Superior Honor Award (twice), and Meritorious Honor Award (three times).