Marcia Bernicat

Bernicat was born in 1953.[https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/bernicat-marcia-stephens-bloom Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat (1953–)], United States Department of State, Office of the Historian. Accessed September 14, 2022 She grew up in Tinton Falls, New Jersey and graduated from Monmouth Regional High School.Seligman, Kathy. [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109527889/marcia-bloom-bernicat-of-tinton-falls/ "Life in Foreign Service calls Tinton Falls woman"], Asbury Park Press, October 6, 1981. Accessed September 14, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Bloom, a graduate of Monmouth Regional High School, was a State Department intern at the American Embassy in Monrovia, Liberia, then, and the job was her first opportunity to travel." In 1975 she earned a B.A. from Lafayette College, where she majored in history.[https://magazine.lafayette.edu/spring2011/2011/04/25/madame-ambassador/ Madame Ambassador], Lafayette Magazine, Spring 2011. Accessed September 14, 2022. Through work with her mentor and thesis advisor, she became particularly interested in the League of Nations and the relationship between the United States and the United Nations. She earned an M.S. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University in 1980.[https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/234534.htm U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh] U.S. Department of State, accessed March 6, 2016[https://2009-2017.state.gov/m/dghr/coc/2014/227558.htm Bernicat, Marcia] U.S. Department of State, accessed March 6, 2016{{Cite web |title=Marcia Bernicat (MSFS'80) becomes Director General of the Foreign Service |url=https://msfs.georgetown.edu/timeline/marcia-bernicat-msfs80-becomes-director-general-of-the-foreign-service/ |access-date=2022-12-20 |website=Georgetown University |language=en-US}}

Bernicat began her career working in a managerial position at Procter & Gamble in Staten Island, New York.

In 1982, Bernicat began her career as a Foreign Service Officer at the U.S. embassy in Bamako, the capital of Mali. She served as consular officer at the U.S. consulate general in Marseille, France from 1984 to 1986. From 1986 to 1989 she held position in the U.S., but successive moves after that had her assigned in India, Morocco, Malawi and Barbados. From 2006 to 2008 she was office director for several Asian countries. In that role she was engaged in negotiations to supply India with non-military nuclear materials. She was nominated by George W. Bush in 2008 to be U.S. Ambassador to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau.

From 2012 to 2014 Bernicat served as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Human Resources at the Department of State. In 2014 she was nominated and confirmed as U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh. She spoke with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee about Bangladesh, noting that it is the eighth largest country in the world by population and third largest Muslim majority nation. Bangladesh, she observed, is known for traditions that are moderate and pluralistic.[http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2014/jul/19/bernicat-jan-5-election-was-undeniably-flawed#sthash.AGNHeFrg.dpuf Bernicat: Jan 5 election was undeniably flawed] Dhaka Tribune, July 19, 2014

On April 15, 2021, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Bernicat to serve as the Director General of the Foreign Service.{{Cite web |date=2021-04-15 |title=President Biden Announces His Intent to Nominate Key Administration Leaders in the State Department |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/04/15/president-biden-announces-his-intent-to-nominate-key-administration-leaders-in-the-state-department/ |access-date=2021-11-10 |website=The White House |language=en-US}} On April 28, 2021, her nomination was sent to the Senate.{{Cite web |date=2021-04-28 |title=Nominations Sent to the Senate |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/04/28/nominations-sent-to-the-senate-14/ |access-date=2021-11-10 |website=The White House |language=en-US}} On September 15, 2021, a hearing on her nomination was held before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.{{Cite web |date=2021-10-19 |title=PN492 - Nomination of Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat for Department of State, 117th Congress (2021-2022) |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/492 |access-date=2021-11-10 |website=www.congress.gov}} On October 19, 2021, her nomination was reported favorably out of committee.{{Cite press release |title=SFRC APPROVES 33 CRITICAL FOREIGN POLICY NOMINATIONS |date=October 19, 2021 |publisher=United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations |location=Washington, D.C. |url=https://www.foreign.senate.gov/press/chair/release/sfrc-approves-33-critical-foreign-policy-nominations- |access-date=November 9, 2021}} On May 26, 2022, the United States Senate confirmed her nomination by an 82–10 vote.{{cite web |title=On the Nomination (Confirmation: Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat, of New Jersey, to be Director General of the Foreign Service) |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1172/vote_117_2_00212.htm |website=US Senate |access-date=27 May 2022}} She began service on May 31, 2022,{{cite web |url=https://www.state.gov/biographies/marcia-bernicat/ |title=Marcia S. Bernicat |publisher=United States Department of State |access-date=2022-06-21}} and was sworn in by Deputy Secretary Brian P. McKeon on June 6, 2022.{{cite tweet |user=DepSecStateMR | first=Brian P. |last=McKeon |number=1533913146812948481 |title=Today I was honored to swear in Ambassador Bernicat as @StateDG of the Foreign Service and Director of Global Talent! |access-date=2022-06-09}} On January 15, 2025, incoming President Trump asked Bernicat to resign.{{Cite news |last=Pamuk |first=Humeyra |date=January 15, 2025 |title=Exclusive: Trump team asks three US senior career diplomats to resign, sources say |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-team-asks-three-us-senior-career-diplomats-resign-sources-say-2025-01-15/ |work=Rueters}}

Bernicat speaks French, Hindi and Russian. She is married to Olivier Bernicat and they have two children.[https://www.congress.gov/crec/2008/05/20/CREC-2008-05-20-pt1-PgS4485.pdf Congressional record] Congress, May 20, 2008

{{Commons category|Marcia Bernicat}}

{{Reflist}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-dip}}

{{s-bef|before=Dan Mozena}}

{{s-ttl|title=United States Ambassador to Bangladesh|years=2015–2018}}

{{s-aft|after=Earl R. Miller}}

{{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bernicat, Marcia}}

Category:1957 births

Category:21st-century American diplomats

Category:African-American diplomats

Category:Ambassadors of the United States to Bangladesh

Category:Ambassadors of the United States to Guinea-Bissau

Category:Ambassadors of the United States to Senegal

Category:American women ambassadors

Category:Biden administration personnel

Category:Directors general of the United States Foreign Service

Category:Lafayette College alumni

Category:Living people

Category:Monmouth Regional High School alumni

Category:Obama administration personnel

Category:People from Tinton Falls, New Jersey

Category:Walsh School of Foreign Service alumni