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 Colombia
CANDIDATE: Joseph Estey Macmanus
Joseph Estey Macmanus, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, is currently Adviser to the Office of the Secretary at the Department of State, Washington, D.C., a position he undertook in June 2017. He was Senior Adviser to the Secretary of State and Executive Secretary of the Department of State from 2014-2017. A former Ambassador and high-level State Department official, Mr. Macmanus is widely known for his senior leadership and management skills as well as his broad knowledge of foreign policy and U.S. government operations. He is expert at leading the U.S. government interagency process.
Mr. Macmanus served as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies in Vienna and U.S. Permanent Representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, Austria from 2012-2014. He was the Executive Assistant to Secretary of State Clinton in 2012 and from 2009-2011; and to Secretary of State Rice from 2008-2009. In the Office of Legislative Affairs at the State Department, Mr. Macmanus was the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary (2011-2012), Deputy Assistant Secretary (2005-2008) and Office Director (2004-2005). He was Senior Legislative Adviser for European Affairs at the Department State from 2003-2004. At the former United States Information Service, Mr. Macmanus served as Executive Assistant in the Office of the Director from 1995-1999 and Russia Desk Officer from 1993-1995. Abroad, he was Counselor for Public Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Brussels, Belgium from1999-2003, Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Consulate in Krakow, Poland from 1990-1993 and Press Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in San Salvador, El Salvador from 1987-1989. He served at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, Mexico from 1986-1987. Before joining the Foreign Service, Mr. Macmanus was the Project Manager of the American Antiquarian Society in Worcester, Massachusetts, a Graduate Assistant at SUNY Buffalo and the Advertising Director of the Century Theater in Buffalo, New York.
Mr. Macmanus earned a B.A. at the University of Notre Dame and a M.L.S. at the State University of New York at Buffalo. He is the recipient of eleven notable senior State Department awards. Mr. Macmanus speaks Spanish, French and Polish.