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: Russian Federation
CANDIDATE: Jon M. Huntsman, Jr.
Jon M. Huntsman, Jr. is a prominent politician, diplomat and businessman, who currently is Chairman of the Atlantic Council and co-Chairman of No-Labels, a non-partisan leadership group dedicated to finding common sense solutions to complex public policy issues. His distinguished record of public service includes two terms as Governor of Utah (2005-2009), and service as US Ambassador to China (2009 – 2011) and to Singapore (1992 – 1993). Governor Huntsman also was the Deputy United States trade representative (2001-2003) with the rank of Ambassador. In the private sector he serves as a director on numerous boards including Hilton Worldwide, Chevron, Ford Motor Company and Caterpillar. Mr. Huntsman was a candidate for President (2011 -2012) and demonstrated his keen understanding of the challenging domestic and foreign policy issues facing our nation. This knowledge, coupled with his wide-ranging experience and exemplary leadership skills, makes him well qualified to serve as Ambassador to the Russian Federation.
Governor Huntsman began his career in public service as a White House Staff Assistant to President Ronald Reagan. He was Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for East Asia and the Pacific (1990 -1992), and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for the Trade Development Bureau (1989-1990). Governor Huntsman is a member of the American Academy of Diplomacy, a Distinguished Fellow at the Brookings Institute and a board member of the US Naval Academy Foundation. He was the Chairman of the Western Governors Association (2007-2008) and led the Huntsman Cancer Foundation which supports the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City.
Governor Huntsman received his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1987 and has been the recipient of numerous awards, including eleven Honorary Doctorates from various universities, the Utah Catholic Humanitarian of the Year (2014), the Equality Utah Leadership Award (2013) and the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award (2008).