On 4 September, the President of the United States of America Donald Trump nominated Kelly C. Degnan to become the new ambassador to Georgia.

Degnan has 25 years of experience in the diplomatic service of the USA. She currently serves as the Political Advisor to the Commander of United States Naval Forces Europe – United States Naval Forces Africa.

Degnan obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Northwestern University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Southern California Law Center. During her long career, she served as the Political Counselor at the US Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in Brussels, Belgium; Senior Civilian Representative to Brigade Combat Team Salerno in Khost, Afghanistan; Deputy Political Counselor at the United States Embassy in Ankara, Turkey; Special Assistant to the Secretary of State and to the Undersecretary for Political Affairs at the Department of State; Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Mission to Italy; and Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy in Pristina, Kosovo. She earned the Secretary of State’s Expeditionary Service Award and speaks Italian, French, Turkish and Urdu.

David Zalkaliani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia welcomed the decision and vowed a close cooperation with the new ambassador after all mandatory procedures are completed. “She is the first US ambassador to Georgia under Trump’s administration,” he said. The spot of the US ambassador to Georgia had been vacant since March 2018 when the former US ambassador to the country Ian C. Kelly completed his mission. Currently, Elizabeth Rood, the Deputy Chief of US Mission to Georgia serves as Chargé d’Affaires.