Robert F. Godec's term ended on September 30, 2021.
Robert F. Godec was the Acting Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of African Affairs. He previously served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of African Affairs. Prior to these assignments, Ambassador Godec was Deputy Commandant and International Affairs Advisor at the National War College in 2019-2020. He was U.S. Ambassador to Kenya from January 2013 to February 2019. Ambassador Godec was assigned as the Chargé d’Affaires at U.S. Embassy Nairobi, Kenya in August 2012.
Before his assignment in Nairobi, Ambassador Godec was the Principal Deputy Coordinator for Counterterrorism in the Bureau of Counterterrorism in the Department of State. From 2006 to 2009, he served as U.S. Ambassador to Tunisia. Ambassador 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, charged with organizing the transition of policy and operational elements of the Coalition Provisional Authority and the standup of U.S. Mission Iraq.
Ambassador Godec has also served as Acting Deputy Chief of Mission and Minister Counselor for Economic Affairs at U.S. Embassy Pretoria, South Africa. His other positions include Economic Counselor at U.S. Embassy 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.
Ambassador Godec joined the Foreign Service in 1985. He has a Master of Arts degree in international relations from Yale University, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia. He attended the State Department’s Senior Seminar and has received Presidential Meritorious Service Awards, a Distinguished Honor Award, and many other awards and commendations.