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Linda Thomas-Greenfield

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Linda Thomas-Greenfield
Image of Linda Thomas-Greenfield

Nonpartisan

Prior offices
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
Successor: Dorothy Shea
Predecessor: Rich Mills


Linda Thomas-Greenfield was the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations for the Biden administration from 2021 to 2025. She was confirmed on February 23, 2021, by a vote of 78-20. Click here to learn more about her confirmation process.

Thomas-Greenfield spent more than three decades with the U.S. Foreign Service, including as the ambassador to Liberia and in posts in four different continents.[1]

Biography

Thomas-Greenfield received a B.A. from Louisiana State University and an M.A. from the University of Wisconsin. She worked at the U.S. Foreign Service for 35 years, where she held an ambassadorship in Liberia from 2008 to 2012 and positions in Switzerland, Pakistan, Kenya, The Gambia, Nigeria, and Jamaica. From 2012 to 2013, she was the director general of the Foreign Service and director of human resources.[1]

Following her public service, Thomas-Greenfield worked at the Africa Practice for the strategic commercial diplomacy firm Albright Stonebridge Group. She was also a fellow at the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, joining the organization in 2017.[1]

Career

Below is an abbreviate outline of Thomas-Greenfield's professional career:[2]

  • 1982-2017: U.S. Foreign Service
    • 2012-2013: Director general of the Foreign Service
    • 2008-2012: Ambassadorship to Liberia
    • 2006-2008: Principal deputy assistant secretary, Bureau of African Affairs
    • 2004-2006: Deputy assistant secretary, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration

Nomination for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations

See also: Joe Biden presidential transition and Confirmation process for Linda Thomas-Greenfield for ambassador to the United Nations
Joe Biden's Cabinet
Candidate: Linda Thomas-Greenfield
Position: Ambassador to the United Nations
ApprovedaAnnounced:November 23, 2020
ApprovedaHearing:January 27, 2021
ApprovedaCommittee:Foreign Relations
ApprovedaReported:Favorable (18-4)
ApprovedaConfirmed:February 23, 2021
ApprovedaVote:78-20

The Biden Transition announced on November 23, 2020, that Thomas-Greenfield would be nominated for U.S. ambassador the United Nations.[1]

Jeffrey Feltman, a former United Nations undersecretary, said of Thomas-Greenfield, "She leavened her diplomatic approach with real human empathy and warmth. I think she will be perfect for restoring U.S. leadership at the U.N. and sort of rebooting the U.N. and our multilateral alliances for meeting today's challenges."[3]

Greenfield-Thomas said during her confirmation hearing, "When America shows up—when we are consistent and persistent—when we exert our influence in accordance with our values—the United Nations can be an indispensable institution for advancing peace, security, and our collective well-being. If instead we walk away from the table, and allow others to fill the void, the global community suffers—and so do American interests."[4]

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held Thomas-Greenfield's confirmation hearing on January 27, 2021. The Senate confirmed her on February 23, 2021, by a vote of 78-20.[5]

Summary of Senate vote on Linda Thomas-Greenfield's nomination for ambassador to the United Nations (February 23, 2021)
Party Votes for Votes against Not voting
Democratic Party Democrats 48 0 0
Republican Party Republicans 28 20 2
Grey.png Independents 2 0 0
Totals 78 20 2


Click on the following table to view the full roll call.

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Biden-Harris Transition, "President-Elect Biden Announces Key Members of Foreign Policy and National Security Team," November 23, 2020
  2. ↑ U.S. Department of State, "Linda Thomas-Greenfield," accessed February 10, 2021
  3. ↑ Voice of America, "Biden Taps Veteran US Diplomat Linda Thomas-Greenfield as UN Ambassador ," November 23, 2020
  4. ↑ Senate Foreign Relations Committee, "Thomas-Greenfield Testimony," January 27, 2021
  5. ↑ Senate.gov, " On the Nomination (Confirmation: Linda Thomas-Greenfield, of Louisiana, to be the Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations and the Representative of the United States of America in the Security Council of the United Nations)," February 23, 2021

Political offices
Preceded by
Rich Mills 		U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
2021-2025		 Succeeded by
Dorothy Shea
v • e
Biden Administration
Overviews
Cabinet
Members not requiring Senate confirmation

Members confirmed by the Senate


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