REPORT FOR THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS
UNITED STATES SENATE
SUBJECT: Ambassadorial Nomination: Certificate of Demonstrated Competence — Foreign Service Act, Section 304(a)(4)
POST: Gabonese Republic and Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and
Principe
CANDIDATE: Joel Danies
Joel Danies, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Counselor, is currently Associate Dean, School of Professional and Area Studies, Foreign Service Institute, Department of State, Arlington, Virginia, a position he has held since 2016. Having served in senior-level Department of State positions at home and abroad, Mr. Danies is known for his extensive experience in managing personnel and financial resources and as an effective negotiator on complex bilateral and multilateral polices, particularly relating to legislative and global issues such as combating violent extremism and developing rule of law initiatives. Mr. Danies, an expert at leading interagency teams, is well-respected by his colleagues and foreign interlocutors for his collaborative approach to problem-solving, his approachability and his integrity in decision-making.
Previously, Mr. Danies served in the Department of State, Washington, D.C. as Chief of Staff, Bureau of Administration (2014-2016), Deputy Special Coordinator, Office of Haiti Special Coordinator (2011-2014), Program Analyst, Undersecretary for Management (2007-2009) and Post Management Officer, Bureau of European Affairs (2005-2007). Overseas, he was Deputy Director, International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Division, U.S. Embassy Kabul, Afghanistan (2010-2011), Political Counselor, U.S. Mission Geneva, Switzerland (2004-2005), Senior Human Rights Officer, U.S. Mission Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland (2001-2004) and Management Officer, U.S. Embassy Belmopan, Belize (1998-2001). He also worked as a Special Assistant, Undersecretary for Global Affairs, as Colombia Program Officer, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, as Special Assistant for Press and Public Affairs, Special Envoy to Haiti, as Legislative Management Officer, Bureau of Legislative Affairs, as Consular Officer and Staff Assistant to the Ambassador, U.S. Embassy Paris, France and General Services Officer, U.S. Embassy Sanaa, Yemen. Prior to joining the Foreign Service, he worked for USAIR and a retailer.
Mr. Danies earned a M.S. from the National War College and a B.A from University of Maryland, College Park in. He speaks French, Haitian-Creole, and Arabic.