Kevin Whitaker

Kevin Whitaker - U.S. Ambassador to Colombia

Kevin Whitaker was confirmed by the Senate April 1, and sworn in on April 28, 2014 as U.S. Ambassador to Colombia. Prior to this appointment, he was Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South America in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs. He is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service.

Mr. Whitaker has served in the United Kingdom, Jamaica, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, where he was Deputy Chief of Mission (2005-07). In addition, he previously served in a number of positions at the Department of State, including as coordinator of the Office of Cuban Affairs (2002-05), Deputy Executive Secretary (2007-08), and director of the office of Andean affairs (2008-11). In 2005, he won the Secretary’s Award for Public Affairs and Public Diplomacy.

A native of Virginia, Mr. Whitaker received his degree from the University of Virginia. He is married to Elizabeth Whitaker, a former member of the Senior Foreign Service.