Marcos Mandojana was born in Puerto Rico. - U.S. Embassy photo - |
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Published on Monday, August 16,
2021
Authorities of the United States Embassy announce Marcos Mandojana as the new Chargé d’Affaires, replacing Gloria Berbena. Berbena left her position at the embassy last week. "Marcos Mandojana will serve as Charge d'Affaires until the arrival of the new Ambassador," she tweeted on Aug. 13.
"He enjoys soccer, hiking, scuba diving, tennis, ultimate frisbee, skiing, photography, and supporting Duke basketball," the embassy said in its statement. "He and his wife, Christine, have a daughter in college and a son in high school." According to the embassy, Mandojana served previously as Political Counselor in Ankara, Turkey; Principal Officer and Consul General in Barcelona, Spain; Deputy Director for Mainland Southeast Asia; Special Assistant to Deputy Secretary Bill Burns; Deputy Political Counselor in Bogotá, Colombia; Deputy Economic Counselor in Lima, Peru; Desk Officer for Honduras; Political, Economic, and Consular Officer in Lisbon, Portugal; and Political and Consular Officer in Manila, the Philippines. Before joining the Foreign Service in 2000, Mr. Mandojana worked in the Latin America & Caribbean Division of the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), for U.S. Senator Bill Frist (R-TN), and as a biomedical researcher in Brazil and North Carolina. Mandojana earned an M.S. degree from the National Defense University’s Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy; an M.S. degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service with concentrations in Latin America and U.S. Foreign Policy; and a B.S. in Biology, French & European Studies, and Political Science from Duke University, added the embassy. In June, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Cynthia Ann Telles as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Costa Rica. It is expected the embassy announces when Telles will arrive in the country. ------------- What could be the most important challenge for the new U.S. Embassy leader? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com |