UNITED STATES SENATE
SUBJECT: Ambassadorial Nomination: Certificate of Demonstrated Competence — Foreign Service Act, Section 304(a)(4)
POST: Lebanese Republic
CANDIDATE: Lisa A. Johnson
Lisa A. Johnson is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor. She currently is the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). Previously, she was INL Deputy Assistant Secretary for Europe and Asia, and prior to that, Deputy Commandant and International Affairs Advisor at the National War College. Johnson served as Ambassador to the Republic of Namibia and Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. in The Bahamas. Earlier, she was INL Office Director for Africa and the Middle East, Special Advisor for South and Central Asia in the Office of the Vice President, and National Security Council Director for the Middle East. Additional overseas assignments include U.S. embassies in Islamabad, Beirut, Pretoria, and Luanda as well as the Office of the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Brussels. Johnson’s substantive background in Near Eastern affairs, demonstrated ability to lead large interagency teams, successful tenure as Ambassador to Namibia, and broad diplomatic experience in a career spanning over three decades make her well-qualified to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the Lebanese Republic.
Johnson is the recipient of numerous State Department performance awards, including six Senior Foreign Service Performance Awards. A native of Iowa, she has an A.B. degree from Stanford University and an M.I.A. degree from Columbia University. She also has an M.S. degree from the National War College.