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: Argentine Republic
CANDIDATE: Edward Charles Prado
Judge Edward Charles Prado is a distinguished federal jurist having served as a United States Judge for over thirty years. The first nineteen years he served as a United States District Judge for the Western District of Texas and for the past 14 years as an appellate judge on the United State Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Prior to becoming a judge he served as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas and was in charge of one of the larger U.S. Attorneys Offices in the nation. Judge Prado also served as a State District Judge, an Assistant Federal Public Defender and an Assistant State District Attorney. He served in the United States Army Reserves (1972-1987) and retired as a captain. His legal acumen, knowledge of Latin America, communication skills, decision-making abilities and experience working for the federal government make him well-qualified to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to Argentina.
During his term as United States Attorney, he was appointed by the Attorney General to serve on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee. While a federal judge he has served as President of the 5th Circuit District Judges Association, Board of Directors of the Federal Judges Association, 5th Circuit Judicial Council, Board of Directors of the Federal Judicial Center, and the Defender Services Committee and Judicial Branch Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States Courts. He has also served on many local and national Bar Association committees.
He received his Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees from the University of Texas at Austin. Judge Prado speaks Spanish fluently and has made numerous presentations throughout Latin American, including Argentina.