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: Montenegro
CANDIDATE: Judy Rising Reinke
Judy Rising Reinke, the most senior career member of the Foreign Commercial Service, U.S. Department of Commerce, class of Career Minister, has served for over three decades as a strategist and advocate for U.S. commercial interests across the world with an emphasis on Europe and Southeast Asia. Most recently, Ms. Reinke was the Deputy Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service/Global Markets division of the U.S. Department of Commerce from 2013 – 2017, serving as acting Assistant Secretary/Director General for nearly two years of that tenure. In this role, she managed programs and resources totaling over $250m with nearly 1,600 employees in the U.S. and 75 countries abroad. Previously, she served as Regional Director for Western Europe for the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service (2008-2010). Ms. Reinke’s knowledge of Europe, her strong leadership and interagency management skills, plus extensive experience carrying out sensitive advocacy and trade programs abroad, make her an excellent candidate for Ambassador to Montenegro.
Ms. Reinke’s additional senior leadership positions include heading Commerce offices at Embassies in India (2010-2013), the Philippines (2005-2008), and Thailand (2002-2005). Her overseas experience also includes assignments in Indonesia, Germany and Switzerland. Previous roles at Commerce include experience in export control enforcement and trade law compliance.
Ms. Reinke earned a B.A. from Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts and a M.P.A. from Princeton University. Ms. Reinke has been part of two Gold Medal winning teams at the U.S. Department of Commerce and received the Director General’s Award for Operational Excellence. She speaks German and has knowledge of French, Bahasa Indonesia and Thai.