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 Paraguay
CANDIDATE: M. Lee McClenny
M. Lee McClenny, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, is currently the Chargé d’Affaires, U.S. Embassy Caracas, Venezuela, a position he has held since 2014. Formerly a Deputy Chief of Mission and Consul General, he is also known as a highly skilled public diplomacy officer, expert at interacting with the press and media both domestically and abroad. Assigned overseas to ten State Department Missions, he is experienced at leading interagency teams addressing matters of global concern to America, and is well-respected by his colleagues and foreign interlocutors for his collaborative approach to problem-solving, his approachability and his integrity in decision-making.
Previously, Mr. McClenny served as Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2011-2014), Consul General, U.S. Consulate General Montreal, Canada (2008-2011), Public Affairs Counselor, U.S. Embassy Manila, Philippines (2005-2008), Press Counselor, U.S. Embassy London, United Kingdom (2001-2005) and Director, Press and Media Service, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Brussels, Belgium (1999-2001). At the Department of State, he worked as Director, Office of Press Relations, (1997-1999) and Public Affairs Officer, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (1994-1997). With the United States Information Agency, he served as Press Officer and Cultural Center Director, U.S. Embassy Guatemala City, Guatemala, and at the U.S. Embassies in Belgrade, Yugoslavia and Ottawa, Canada.
Mr. McClenny earned a B.A. from the University of Washington. He is the recipient of 14 notable senior State Department awards, including the Presidential Meritorious Service Award. He speaks Spanish, French, Serbo-Croatian and Russian.