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 Nicaragua
CANDIDATE: Kevin K. Sullivan
Kevin K. Sullivan, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, is currently the Deputy Permanent Representative to the U.S. Mission to the Organization of American States in Washington, D.C, a position he has held since 2016. A 30-year veteran of the Foreign Service, Mr. Sullivan is a fluent Spanish speaker and one of the Department’s top Latin America experts. While serving as Deputy Chief of Mission/Chargé d’Affaires in Buenos Aires, Argentina (2013-2016), he persuaded senior Argentine decision-makers to resolve a decade-long, $10 billion debt to Paris Club members. As Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Lilongwe, Malawi (2007-2010), he managed programming of $100 million in annual U.S. assistance focused on health and economic growth. His leadership and management abilities, together with his regional expertise and communication skills, make him an excellent candidate for U.S. Ambassador to Nicaragua
Mr. Sullivan has also served the State Department as Director, Office of Economic Policy and Summit Coordination, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (2010-2013), Political/Economic Counselor, U.S. Embassy Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (2005-2007), Economic Officer, U.S. Embassy Santiago, Chile (2001-2005), Economic Officer, U.S. Embassy Buenos Aires, Argentina (1997-2000) and Economic Officer, Office of Cuban Affairs, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (1994-1997). He was International Relations Officer, Office of Policy Planning, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (1992-1994), General Services Officer, U.S. Embassy Banjul, The Gambia (1990-1992) and Vice Consul, U.S. Embassy Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (1988-1990). Prior to joining the Foreign Service, he was an Admissions Officer at Georgetown University.
Mr. Sullivan earned a B.A. at Georgetown University and a M.A. from Princeton University. He is the recipient of numerous notable State Department awards as well as the Council for American Studies “Puente de la Americas” Prize (Argentina). In addition to Spanish, Mr. Sullivan speaks basic French.