Virginia E. Palmer

Palmer is the daughter of Becky and Richard Palmer, who was a professor of drama at Washington University in St. Louis. She grew up in University City, Missouri, and graduated from University City High School. She attended Georgetown University and earned a Bachelor of Science in foreign service in 1983. She then earned a Master of Arts at the University of Virginia in 1986.[http://www.allgov.com/news/appointments-and-resignations/us-ambassador-to-malawi-who-is-virginia-palmer-141018?news=854564 U.S. Ambassador to Malawi: Who Is Virginia Palmer?] AllGov, October 18, 2014 Palmer also attended Washington University in St. Louis.{{Cite web |title=Virginia E. Palmer |url=https://www.state.gov/biographies/virginia-e-palmer/ |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=United States Department of State |language=en-US}}

In 1986, following completion of her graduate studies, Palmer joined the United States Foreign Service. Her early assignments included serving as consular officer at the U.S. Consulate in Calgary, Canada, and as economic officer at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, China. International assignments also include ones in Zimbabwe, Hong Kong, Kenya and Vietnam. She was director of the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs's Office of Economic Policy from 2004 to 2005. From 2005 to 2008 she served in the Department of State as the deputy coordinator for counterterrorism.

When she was nominated by President Barack Obama to be U.S. ambassador to Malawi, she was deputy chief of mission at the U.S. embassy in Pretoria, a position she had held since 2011.[http://lilongwe.usembassy.gov/about-us/ambassador.html Virginia E. Palmer U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Malawi] U.S. Embassy at Malawi, accessed May 7, 2016 In that role, Palmer welcomed Obama as he visited three nations in Africa, when she explained to local media, "This visit highlights the potential of Africa and our President to interact and highlight the role of the 600 American companies that are already operating in South Africa and are creating jobs in South Africa."[http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/c557dd80401e6f9bbe1afe0b5d39e4bb/Obamaundefinedvisitundefinedtoundefinedstrengthenundefinedties-20132506 Obama visit to strengthen ties: Palmer] South African BC, June 25, 2013

Delays in the Senate kept her nomination, as well as those of many other ambassador nominees, from being approved. The American Foreign Service Association expressed concern that delays in Senate proceedings were putting the U.S. at risk because of the absence of ambassadors in countries engaged in "the war on Ebola", the killer virus which dominated the 2014 United States–Africa Leaders Summit.[http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/on-eve-of-obama-summit-20-of-u.s.-embassies-in-africa-lack-ambassador/article/2551579 On eve of Obama summit, 20% of U.S. Embassies in Africa lack ambassador] the Washington Examiner, August 1, 2014

After assuming her role as Malawi ambassador, Palmer became vocal in defense of civil rights for gay couples in the country.{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}}

Palmer was succeeded by Robert Scott on August 7, 2019.{{cite web|url=http://www.malawianwatchdog.com/featured/us-ambassador-presents-credentials-to-mutharika/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808194806/http://www.malawianwatchdog.com/featured/us-ambassador-presents-credentials-to-mutharika/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=August 8, 2019|title=US Ambassador presents credentials to Mutharika|date=August 7, 2019|work=Malawian Watchdog}} From November 4, 2019, she served as principal deputy assistant secretary for the Bureau of Energy Resources. Palmer was appointed as the acting assistant secretary of state for energy resources on January 20, 2021, by President Joe Biden.{{cite web |title=Virginia E. Palmer |url=https://www.state.gov/biographies/virginia-e-palmer/ |website=United States Department of State |access-date=2 July 2021}}

On July 2, 2021, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Palmer to be the next United States Ambassador to Ghana.{{Cite press release |title=President Biden Announces Seven Key Nominations |date=July 2, 2021 |publisher=The White House |location=Washington, D.C. |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/07/02/president-biden-announces-seven-key-nominations-3/}} {{PD-notice}} On July 13, her nomination was sent to the Senate.{{Cite press release |title=Nominations Sent to the Senate |date=July 13, 2021 |publisher=The White House |location=Washington, D.C. |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/07/13/nominations-sent-to-the-senate-24/}} {{PD-notice}} On September 29, a hearing on her nomination was held before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.{{Cite web |date=2021-10-19 |title=PN780 - Nomination of Virginia E. Palmer for Department of State, 117th Congress (2021-2022) |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/780 |access-date=2021-11-10 |website=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 December 18, 2021, her nomination was confirmed in the Senate by voice vote.{{Cite web |date=March 2, 2022 |title=PN780 - Nomination of Virginia E. Palmer for Department of State, 117th Congress (2021-2022) |url=http://www.congress.gov/ |website=www.congress.gov}} She presented her credentials to foreign minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey on May 10, 2022.{{Cite tweet |number=1524117310247739392 |user=AyorkorBotchwey |title=The Ambassador - Designate of the United States of America to Ghana, H.E Ms. Virginia E. Palmer, presented her open letters to my office today. |author=Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey |date=May 10, 2022}}

In addition to English, Palmer speaks Chinese and French. Palmer is married to Ismail Asmal, who is also a Foreign Service officer. They have two daughters.{{Cite web |title=U.S. Ambassador to Malawi: Who Is Virginia Palmer? |url=http://www.allgov.com/news?news=854564 |access-date=2022-03-27 |website=AllGov.com}}

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Category:1963 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American diplomats

Category:21st-century American women civil servants

Category:Place of birth missing (living people)

Category:Ambassadors of the United States to Ghana

Category:Ambassadors of the United States to Malawi

Category:American women ambassadors

Category:Walsh School of Foreign Service alumni

Category:Obama administration personnel

Category:People from St. Louis County, Missouri

Category:United States Foreign Service personnel

Category:University of Virginia alumni

Category:Washington University in St. Louis alumni