May 18, 2016
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:
- Ysaÿe M. Barnwell – Member, National Council on the Arts
- Daniel Becker – Member, Board of Directors of the State Justice Institute
- Rena Bitter – Ambassador to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Department of State
- Anne S. Casper – Ambassador to the Republic of Burundi, Department of State
- Sung Y. Kim – Ambassador to the Republic of the Philippines, Department of State
- Geoffrey R. Pyatt – Ambassador to Greece, Department of State
- Douglas Silliman – Ambassador to the Republic of Iraq, Department of State
- Marie L. Yovanovitch – Ambassador to Ukraine, Department of State
President Obama said, “I am pleased to announce that these experienced and committed individuals have decided to serve our country. I look forward to working with them.”
Geoffrey R. Pyatt, who will be nominated as U.S. Ambassador to Greece, is a career member of the Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, currently serves as U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, a position he has held since 2013. Previously, Ambassador Pyatt was Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs from 2010 to 2013. He was Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Mission to the International Organizations in Vienna, Austria from 2007 to 2010. He also served at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, India as Deputy Chief of Mission from 2006 to 2007 and as Political Counselor from 2002 to 2006. Ambassador Pyatt served as Economic Officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong from 1999 to 2002 and as Principal Officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Lahore, Pakistan from 1997 to 1999. Since joining the Foreign Service in 1989, he has also served on the National Security Council staff and at posts in Honduras and India. Ambassador Pyatt received a B.A. from the University of California, Irvine and an M.A. from Yale University.
