Howard Van Vranken Explained

Howard Andree Van Vranken^[1] is an American diplomat serving as the United States Ambassador to Botswana since May 2023.

Education

Van Vranken earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Davis and a Master of Arts from Harvard University.^[2]

Career

A career officer with the United States Foreign Service, Van Vranken has been assigned to embassies in Jerusalem, Sanaa, Oslo, Beirut, Tel Aviv, Belfast, and Tunis. He has also worked in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs and Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs.^[3] He has most recently served as executive director and deputy executive secretary of the United States Department of State.^[4]

Ambassador to Botswana

On July 16, 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Van Vranken to be the next United States Ambassador to Botswana. On September 29, 2021, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.^[5] On October 19, 2021, his nomination was reported favorably out of committee.^[6] The full Senate voted to confirm Van Vraken by voice vote on December 21, 2022, more than a year later. He presented his credentials to President Mokgweetsi Masisi on May 24, 2023.^[7]

Awards and recognitions

Van Vranken is the recipient of the Presidential Distinguished Service Award.

Personal life

Van Vranken speaks Arabic, Persian, and Norwegian.

Notes and References

1. Book: State. United States Department of State. 1991. 23. en.
2. Web site: July 16, 2021 . President Biden Announces Seven Key Nominations . July 16, 2021 . The White House . en-US.
3. Web site: Howard Van Vranken. 2021-07-22. United States Department of State. en-US.
4. Web site: Sheehey. Maeve. Former Sen. Tom Udall is Biden's pick as ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa. 2021-07-22. POLITICO. 16 July 2021 . en.
5. Web site: 2021-10-19 . PN912 - Nomination of Howard A. Van Vranken for Department of State, 117th Congress (2021-2022) . 2021-11-10 . www.congress.gov.
6. SFRC Approves 33 Critical Foreign Policy Nominations . October 19, 2021 . . Washington, D.C. . November 9, 2021.
7. Web site: Ambassador Van Vranken's Statement Marking the Presentation of His Letters of Credence . 2023-05-24 . United States Department of State . 2023-05-28.