Marc Knapper

Knapper earned his Bachelor of Arts from Princeton University and his Master of Arts from the Army War College.{{Cite press release |title=President Biden Announces His Intent to Nominate Nine Career Members of the Senior Foreign Service as Ambassadors |date=April 15, 2021 |publisher=The White House |location=Washington, D.C. |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/04/15/president-biden-announces-his-intent-to-nominate-nine-career-members-of-the-senior-foreign-service-as-ambassadors/}} {{PD-notice}}

Knapper is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor. He previously served as the chargé d’affaires of the U.S. embassy in Seoul, South Korea and, prior to that, was the embassy’s deputy chief of mission. Earlier, Knapper was director of the State Department’s Office of India Affairs and director of the State Department’s office of Japanese Affairs. From 2004 to 2007, he was political affairs counselor at the U.S. embassy in Hanoi.{{Cite web |last=VnExpress |title=US names new ambassador to Vietnam - VnExpress International |url=https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/us-names-new-ambassador-to-vietnam-4263800.html |access-date=2021-04-16 |website=VnExpress International – Latest news, business, travel and analysis from Vietnam |language=en}} His other assignments include leadership positions in the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, and the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, Japan. From August 1, 2018 until July 12, 2021, Knapper served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Korea and Japan.{{Cite web|url= https://www.state.gov/biographies/marc-knapper|title=Marc Knapper|website= The United States Department of State |access-date=2025-01-01|language=en-US}}

File:Secretary Blinken Poses for a Photo With Ambassador Knapper (51843284998).jpg in January 2022]]

On April 15, 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Knapper to be the next United States Ambassador to Vietnam.{{Cite web |date=April 16, 2021 |title=Biden Nominates Career Diplomat Knapper as Ambassador to Vietnam |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-04-16/biden-nominates-career-diplomat-knapper-as-ambassador-to-vietnam |access-date=April 16, 2021 |website=Bloomberg.com |language=en}} Hearings on his nomination were held before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on his nomination on July 13, 2021. The committee favorably reported his nomination to the Senate floor on August 4, 2021. Knapper was confirmed by the Senate by voice vote on December 18, 2021.[https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/380 PN380 — Marc Evans Knapper — Department of State] He was sworn into office on January 3, 2022.{{Cite tweet |number=1478141346326188032 |user=USAsiaPacific |title=Congratulations to Ambassador Marc Knapper on his swearing-in as the new United States Ambassador to Vietnam! The United States supports a strong, independent, and prosperous Vietnam. |author=Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs |author-link=Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs |retweet=Marc Knapper |date=January 3, 2022 |access-date=January 12, 2022}}

Knapper arrived to Vietnam on January 27, 2022 {{Cite web |url=https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/new-us-ambassador-lands-in-vietnam-4422111.html |title=New US ambassador lands in Vietnam |date=January 28, 2022 |website=VnExpress |access-date=January 26, 2025}} and presented his credentials to president Nguyễn Xuân Phúc on February 11.{{Cite web|url=https://en.vietnamplus.vn/president-welcomes-new-ambassadors-of-us-mexico/221964.vnp|title=President welcomes new ambassadors of US, Mexico|date=February 11, 2022|website=VietnamPlus}}

Since assuming his role as U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam, Knapper has strengthened U.S.-Vietnam relations, including elevating bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This milestone paved the way for deeper collaboration across sectors, bolstering American interests.{{Cite web|url= https://en.vietnamplus.vn/2023-a-spectacular-year-for-us-vietnam-ties-us-ambassador-post275798.vnp |title=President welcomes new ambassadors of US, Mexico|date=February 11, 2022|website=VietnamPlus}} Knapper has worked to fortify high-tech supply chains by fostering partnerships between U.S. universities, such as Arizona State University, and Vietnamese institutions. He advanced U.S. security objectives by promoting defense cooperation, including the transfer of training aircraft and facilitating opportunities for American defense manufacturers to support Vietnam’s modernization.{{Cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/vietnam-arms-weapons-exposition-manufacturing-0257d237db09c22a8694a1964ea96941 |title=US ambassador to Vietnam says US arms manufacturers could help boost Vietnam’s military capabilities |last=Knickmeyer |first=Ellen |date=September 23, 2023 |website=AP News |access-date=January 26, 2025}} Additionally, his efforts in renewable energy negotiations attracted investments benefiting U.S. businesses. These initiatives effectively advance American prosperity and stability in the Indo-Pacific.{{Cite web |date=October 18, 2023 |title=Vietnam, US enjoy a year of strategic partnership progress: Ambassador |url=https://en.vietnamplus.vn/vietnam-us-enjoy-a-year-of-strategic-partnership-progress-ambassador-post307659.vnp |access-date=January 26, 2025 |website=VietnamPlus |publisher=Vietnam News Agency}}

Knapper is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Secretary of State’s Distinguished Service award, the State Department’s Linguist of the Year award, and a Presidential Rank award.

Knapper speaks Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese. He and his wife, Suzuko, have a son, Alexander.

• List of ambassadors of the United States

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Category:Living people

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Place of birth missing (living people)

Category:21st-century American diplomats

Category:Ambassadors of the United States to Vietnam

Category:Princeton University alumni

Category:United States Army War College alumni

Category:United States Department of State officials

Category:United States Foreign Service personnel