Brian Andrew Nichols{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/108th-congress/1019/1|title=PN1019-1 — Foreign Service|date=November 18, 2003|website=www.congress.gov|access-date=2018-06-05}} (born 1965 in Providence, Rhode Island{{Cite web|title=Brian A. Nichols|url=https://www.state.gov/biographies/brian-a-nichols/|access-date=2021-12-02|website=United States Department of State|language=en-US}}) is an American diplomat who served as Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs until his retirement in January 2025.{{cite news |last1=Charles |first1=Jaqueline |title=Retiring U.S. envoy reflects on Haiti, offers some advice to Trump administration |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/haiti/article297782748.html |access-date=13 April 2025 |work=Miami Herald |date=2 January 2025}} He previously served as the United States Ambassador to Peru from 2014 until 2017, as well as the U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe from 2018 until 2021.

Ambassadorships

During his time at the State Department, Nichols had served as ambassadors to several countries.

=Ambassador to Peru=

Nichols served as the United States Ambassador to Peru from 2014 until 2017, when he was succeeded by Krishna Urs.{{cite web|url=https://photos.state.gov/libraries/peru/144672/Press%20Releases/063014%20Ambassador%20Nichols.pdf|title=Ambassador | Embassy of the United States Lima, Peru|publisher=Portmoresby.usembassy.gov|access-date=2014-07-01|archive-date=2017-02-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170224215058/http://photos.state.gov/libraries/peru/144672/Press%20Releases/063014%20Ambassador%20Nichols.pdf|url-status=dead}}

=Ambassador to Zimbabwe=

In June 2018, he was nominated to be the next U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe by President Donald Trump.{{cite web|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/eight-nominations-sent-senate-today-5/|title=Eight Nominations Sent to the Senate Today|date=June 4, 2018|via=National Archives|work=whitehouse.gov|access-date=2018-06-05}} On June 28, 2018, his nomination was confirmed in the Senate by voice vote.{{Cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/115th-congress/2051 |title=PN2051 - Nomination of Brian A. Nichols for Department of State, 115th Congress (2017-2018) |date=2018-06-28 |website=www.congress.gov |language=en |access-date=2018-07-09}} On July 19, 2018, Nichols presented his credentials to President Emmerson Mnangagwa.{{Cite web |url=https://zw.usembassy.gov/our-relationship/our-ambassador/ |title=Ambassador Brian A. Nichols |website=zw.usembassy.gov |language=en |access-date=2018-07-19 |archive-date=2018-07-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719191213/https://zw.usembassy.gov/our-relationship/our-ambassador/ |url-status=dead }}

During the George Floyd protests in the United States, Nichols was summoned by the government of Zimbabwe after U.S. Secretary Advisor Robert C. O'Brien labeled Zimbabwe as a "foreign adversary" that was fomenting the protests and threatened with retaliatory action.{{cite news |last1=Mutsaka |first1=Farai |title=Zimbabwe summons US envoy over White House adviser's comment |url=https://apnews.com/58e2082c8af14e376e89a366348ce262 |access-date=28 July 2020 |work=Associated Press |date=1 June 2020}}

In late July 2020, he was threatened with expulsion from the country and called a "thug" by the ruling party after accusations that he was helping organizers of an anti-government march against President Emmerson Mnangagwa.{{cite news |last1=Mutsaka |first1=Farai |title=Zimbabwe's ruling party calls US ambassador a 'thug' |url=https://apnews.com/adf94a220f153e1ba8b1163d20a1b5fa |access-date=28 July 2020 |work=Associated Press |date=28 July 2020}}

=Biden administration=

On March 26, 2021, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Nichols to serve as Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs.{{Cite web|date=2021-03-26|title=President Biden Announces his Intent to Nominate Key Members for the Department of State|url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/03/26/president-biden-announces-his-intent-to-nominate-key-members-for-the-department-of-state/|access-date=2021-03-26|website=The White House|language=en-US}} On September 13, 2021, his nomination was confirmed in the Senate by voice vote.

On 28 February 2023, Nichols urged Peru’s Congress to expedite early elections and Peru’s president to promptly end the country's political crisis,{{Cite web|url=https://www.peoplesworld.org/article/indigenous-rebellion-continues-as-post-coup-peruvian-government-flounders/|title=Indigenous rebellion continues as post-coup Peruvian government flounders|first=W. T. Whitney|last=Jr|date=March 9, 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://rpp.pe/politica/actualidad/estados-unidos-desea-que-dina-boluarte-y-el-congreso-acuerden-un-adelanto-de-elecciones-en-peru-noticia-1469675|title=Estados Unidos desea que Dina Boluarte y el Congreso acuerden un adelanto de elecciones en Perú | RPP Noticias|date=March 1, 2023|website=rpp.pe}} leading to criticism in Peru and from Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.{{Cite web|url=https://nationworldnews.com/amlo-accuses-the-united-states-of-meddling-in-mexicos-affairs-because-of-electoral-reform/|title=AMLO Accuses The United States Of Meddling In Mexico's Affairs Because Of Electoral Reform|date=March 1, 2023|website=nationworldnews.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://elcomercio.pe/politica/internacional/brian-nichols-el-gobierno-y-el-pueblo-del-peru-decidiran-el-momento-de-sus-elecciones-estados-unidos-eeuu-dina-boluarte-pedro-castillo-noticia/|title=Brian Nichols: "El Gobierno y el pueblo del Perú decidirán el momento de sus elecciones"|newspaper=El Comercio |date=March 2, 2023|via=El Comercio (Perú)}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.prensa-latina.cu/2023/03/01/diversas-reacciones-en-peru-a-pedido-de-eeuu-de-adelantar-comicios|title=Diversas reacciones en Perú a pedido de EEUU de adelantar comicios - Prensa Latina|date=March 1, 2023}}

Nichols retired from the Foreign Service on December 31, 2024, after 36 years of service.{{Cite web|url= https://www.state.gov/retirement-statement-for-wha-assistant-secretary-brian-a-nichols/|title= Retirement Statement for WHA Assistant Secretary Brian A. Nichols|date=December 31, 2024}}

Honors

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Sun of Peru{{cite web|title=El saliente embajador de EE.UU. es condecorado por el presidente de Perú|date=6 October 2017|url=http://www.wradio.com.co/noticias/internacional/el-saliente-embajador-de-eeuu-es-condecorado-por-el-presidente-de-peru/20171006/nota/3601571.aspx}}
Two Presidential Meritorious Service Awards
2016 Charles E. Cobb, Jr. Award for Initiative and Success in Trade Development

Personal life

Nichols and his wife, Geraldine Kam, have two daughters.{{Cite web|date=April 4, 2021|title=Black Career Diplomat Is Named Assistant Secretary of State|url=https://diplomaticacademy.us/2021/04/04/brian-nichols-black-career-diplomat/|access-date=January 12, 2022|website=Washington International Diplomatic Academy|language=en-US}} He speaks Spanish.