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 Ecuador
CANDIDATE: Michael J. Fitzpatrick
Michael J. Fitzpatrick, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, is a Senior Advisor in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, at the Department of State, most recently having served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs from 2016 until 2018. He is a 30-year Foreign Service veteran with experience across five regions, including Latin America, Europe, and Africa. Mr. Fitzpatrick previously served as the interim U.S. Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (2014-2016); as Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. at the U.S. Embassy in Lima, Peru (2011-2014); Foreign Policy Advisor to a four-star member of the Joint Chiefs (2009-2011); and as Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. at the U.S. Embassy in Asunción, Paraguay. An accomplished public speaker, he has served as the State Department’s spokesperson on the Venezuela crisis and other regional issues for both English- and Spanish-language news media. Mr. Fitzpatrick’s leadership, management capabilities, and deep substantive and regional expertise make him an excellent candidate for U.S. Ambassador to Ecuador.
Mr. Fitzpatrick also served the Department of State as Counselor for Political Affairs, U.S. Embassy Nairobi, Kenya (2004-2006); Counselor for Political Affairs, U.S. Embassy Brussels, Belgium (2001-2004); Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (2000-2001); and Political Officer, U.S. Embassy Bogota, Colombia (1997-2000). He was Political-Military Affairs Officer, Office of European Security and Political Affairs, Bureau of European Affairs (1995-1997); Line Officer, Executive Secretariat (1993-1995); Deputy Political-Military Affairs Officer and Consular Officer, U.S. Embassy Manila, Philippines (1991-1993); and, Political Officer, U.S. Embassy Lima, Peru (1989-1991). Prior to joining the Foreign Service, he entered public service as a Presidential Management Fellow at the State Department (1986-88).
Mr. Fitzpatrick earned a B.A. from Georgetown University and a M.I.A. from Columbia University. He is the recipient of 22 notable State Department awards, including The Director General’s Award for Reporting and Analysis. He is also a recipient of the W. Averell Harriman Award from the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA). Mr. Fitzpatrick speaks Spanish and French.