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: Republic of Angola
CANDIDATE: Nina Maria Fite
Nina Maria Fite, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, is currently Principal Officer, U.S. Consulate General Montreal, Canada, a position she has held since 2014. A Foreign Service Officer since 1990, she is known for her leadership skills, knowledge of Angola and strong record promoting U.S. trade and foreign direct investment, including as a negotiator in the office of the U.S. Trade Representative. While assigned to Kabul, Ms. Fite served as Special Envoy Richard Holbrooke’s standing control officer. She is broadly experienced at working with civil society overseas to achieve democratization, encourage women entrepreneurs and counter violent extremism. These critical skills, in addition to her ability to lead interagency teams and the depth of her Washington experience make her an excellent candidate for U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Angola.
Previously, she served as Principal Officer, U.S. Consulate General Lahore, Pakistan (2011-2014), Deputy Economic Counselor, U.S. Embassy Kabul, Afghanistan (2009-2010), Office Director, Policy Coordination and Initiatives, Bureau of Oceans, Environment and Science, Department of State (2007-2009), Political-Economic Chief, U.S. Embassy Luanda, Angola (2005-2007) and Career Development Officer, Bureau of Human Resources, Department of State (2004-2005). She served on a detail in the Environment Office of USTR (2003-2004) and as Regional Environment, Science, Technology and Health Officer, U.S. Embassy Budapest, Hungary (1999-2003). Other Department of State assignments include Area Management Officer at Overseas Building Operations, Staff Assistant in Western Hemisphere Affairs, Economic Officer in Portugal and Consular Officer in Jamaica. Earlier, she was an Export Counselor, SEDA Council of Governments, worked in retail sales display and interned at WHYY Public Television in Philadelphia. In Rio de Janeiro she taught English and worked for Roberto Burle Marx, a world-famous landscape architect.
Ms. Fite earned a M.S. from National Defense University (NDU), a M.B.A from Thunderbird School of Global Management and a B.Arch. from Carnegie-Mellon University. She is the recipient of seven notable State Department awards and was a distinguished graduate of NDU. She speaks Portuguese, French, Hungarian and Spanish.