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 Finland
CANDIDATE: Robert Frank Pence
Robert Frank Pence is the founder and Chairman of the Board of the Pence Group, a full-service development company dedicated to sustainable development practices that enhance the quality of life for the communities it serves. His civic engagement is extensive and includes service on the Board of Directors of the Gary Sinise Foundation which supports our nation’s veterans, first responders, and their families. He is deeply involved in education and cultural matters and has served on the boards of George Mason University, American University, The Kennedy Center, and the Wolf Trap Foundation. In addition to his professional and civic roles, Mr. Pence is also a scholar who has been a lecturer at Georgetown University (2007-2008) and a Teaching Fellow at Yale University (2003-2005). Mr. Pence’s leadership and entrepreneurial skills, coupled with his social awareness and his advocacy for education, culture and sustainable development, make him well-qualified to serve as Ambassador to the Republic of Finland.
Prior to founding the Pence Group, Mr. Pence was Director of Real Estate Acquisition for the Lerner Corporation, Wheaton, Maryland (1973-1976) and Vice President and General Counsel for Ziegler Development Corporation, Washington, D.C. (1970-1973). He also served on the Fairfax County, Tyson’s Corner Land Use Task Force (1973-1976) and in the U.S. Agency for International Development, Bureau of Vietnam (1967-1968). Mr. Pence was a member of the World Affairs Council, Washington D.C. (2008-2012).
Mr. Pence earned a B.A. (1967) from the University of Maryland, College Park. He also received a J.D. degree (1971) and two M.A. degrees (1997 and 1999) from American University, Washington DC and M.Phil. (2003) and M.A. (2005) degrees from Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut. He is the recipient of numerous awards including the International Affairs – Leadership Award, from the World Affairs Council of Washington, D.C. in 2009.