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: Togolese Republic
CANDIDATE: Eric William Stromayer
Eric William Stromayer, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, is currently Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Africa and the Sudans in the Bureau of African Affairs at the Department of State, a position he has held since 2017. He has served 29 years in the Foreign Service, including extensive assignments in Africa. Known for his leadership and management expertise, his Africa Bureau assignments include service in Madagascar as Charge d’Affaires a.i. (2010-2011) and Deputy Chief of Mission (2008-2010), Executive Director of the Bureau of African Affairs (2014-2017), Desk Officer, Office of West African Affairs, Bureau of African Affairs (2002-2005), and General Services Officer, U.S. Embassy Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (1991-1994). These skills, together with his knowledge of democratization challenges and economic development issues, coupled with fluent French, make him an excellent candidate for U.S. Ambassador to Togo.
Mr. Stromayer additionally served the State Department as Management Counselor, U.S. Embassy Amman, Jordan (2011-2014), and Management Counselor (2007-2008) and General Services Officer (2005-2007), U.S. Embassy Budapest, Hungary. He was also General Services Officer, U.S. Embassy Rabat, Morocco (1998-2002), Administrative Officer, U.S. Consulate Calcutta, India (1995-1998), Watch Officer, Operations Center (1994-1995), and Consular Officer, U.S. Embassy Port au Prince, Haiti (1990-1991). Prior to his State Department career Mr. Stromayer worked at the World Bank (1987-88), served as an Intern in the Office of Senator Tom Harkin (1986-1987), was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Thies, Senegal (1982-1983), and held a variety of other positions.
Mr. Stromayer earned a B.A. from Northwestern University (1982) and a M.A. from Johns Hopkins SAIS (1986). He is the recipient of numerous awards from the State Department. In addition to French, Mr. Stromayer speaks Italian, Hungarian, Wolof, Haitian Creole and some Spanish.