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 Botswana
CANDIDATE: Earl Robert Miller
Earl Robert Miller, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, currently serves as the U.S. Ambassador to Botswana, a position he has held since 2014. Ambassador Miller has spent much of the past decade leading diverse multiagency teams in demanding environments. Prior to his role as Chief of Mission (COM) in Botswana, he served as Consul General in Johannesburg, South Africa (2011 – 2014), and Regional Security Officer (RSO) at our embassies in New Delhi, India (2008-2011), Baghdad, Iraq (2007-2008), and Jakarta, Indonesia, (2004 – 2007). He is respected for his strong compassionate leadership, policy acumen, and crisis management and law enforcement experience. His broad background in counter terrorism, economic development, and public health, coupled with his work overseeing some of our largest overseas security programs, and developing U.S. commercial opportunities, make him well-qualified to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh.
Ambassador Miller has served as Senior Regional Security Officer, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2000-2003), Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), Boston Field Office, Boston, Massachusetts (1998-2000) and Senior Regional Security Officer, Gaborone, Botswana (1995-1998). He served in DSS headquarters in Washington (1994 – 95) and field offices in Miami (1990 – 93) and San Francisco (1987 – 88). He was Assistant RSO in San Salvador, El Salvador (1988 – 90). He served as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps (1981-1984) and U.S. Marine Corps Reserve (1985-1992).
Ambassador Miller earned a B.A. at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1981 and graduated from the U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Quantico, Virginia in 1994. He has received numerous Department of State and law enforcement awards including the Department’s Award for Heroism and FBI’s Shield of Bravery and Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association’s Bravery Award. His military awards include the Navy Commendation Medal with “V” (Valor) Device, Navy Achievement Medal, and Combat Action Ribbon. Ambassador Miller speaks French, Spanish and Indonesian.