Henshaw, Simon – Republic of Guinea – August 2018

SUBJECT:            Ambassadorial Nomination:  Certificate of Demonstrated Competence — Foreign Service Act, Section 304(a)(4)

POST:                  Republic of Guinea

CANDIDATE:     Simon Henshaw

Simon Henshaw, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, currently serves as the Executive Secretary, Cuba Accountability Review Board, U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C.   Previously, Mr. Henshaw was the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary (and Acting Assistant Secretary in 2017) for the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, U.S. Department of State from 2013 – 2018.  Mr. Henshaw also served in other senior leadership positions in the State Department including as Director of the Office of Andean Affairs (2011 – 2013) and as Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy Tegucigalpa, Honduras (2008 – 2011).  Over the course of his more than three decades as a diplomat he has been recognized for his ability to lead diverse interagency teams effectively, help shape and implement U.S government approaches on complex policy issues, and mentor colleagues with patience and empathy.  His extensive experience, demonstrated leadership skills and keen understanding of U.S. policy, bolstered by service in four different geographic bureaus in six overseas assignments, make him an excellent candidate for Ambassador to Guinea.

Mr. Henshaw’s other assignments include service as Consul General, Embassy Brasilia, Brazil (2004-2008),  his selection to attend the National War College, Washington, D.C. (2003 -2004),  Deputy Director of the Cuba Office in the Department of State and Chief of the Consular Section of the U.S. Consulate General in St. Petersburg, Russia (1998 – 2000).  He also served in assignments in Cote d’Ivoire and the Philippines earlier in his career.

Mr. Henshaw earned his B.A. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts in 1983 and his M.S. from the National War College in Washington, D.C in 2004.  He speaks French, Spanish, basic Russian and basic Portuguese and is the recipient of several notable State Department awards.