Kate Marie Byrnes

Kate Marie Byrnes is an American diplomat, who has served as the United States Ambassador to North Macedonia since July 2019. She is a career diplomat who has received many awards for her service.

Kate Marie Byrnes
8th United States Ambassador to North Macedonia
Assumed office
July 12, 2019
PresidentDonald Trump
Joe Biden
Preceded byJess Baily
Personal details
CitizenshipUnited States
Spouse(s)Larry Scott Gage
EducationGeorgetown University (B.S., M.A.)
OccupationDiplomat
Awards
Military service
Years of service24

Education

Byrnes has a Bachelor of Science (Foreign Service) in International Relations from Georgetown University, and a master's degree in Policy Management, also from Georgetown University.[1] She speaks three languages: Spanish, Hungarian and Turkish.[2]

Career

Diplomatic service

During her time in the diplomatic service, she served in Spain, Hungary, and Belgium. She also served as the deputy chief of mission of the United States Mission to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, where she expressed dismay at Russian aggression against Ukraine.[3] After that, she became deputy chief of mission in Greece from 2017 to 2019. [4][2]

From 2007 through 2010, she was a Public Affairs Advisor to the United States Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. She has previously represented US interests in Bolivia, Hungary, Spain, and Turkey.[5]

Ambassador to North Macedonia

She was originally nominated to North Macedonia in 2018,[6] and re-nominated in 2019, both before[7] and after the nation changed its name. Byrnes was appointed to replace Ambassador Jess Baily.[5][8][9][10][11]

A career diplomat, she had served as the deputy ambassador to Athens, and was the designated representative of the US mission to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Vienna.[10][5] Addressing the United States Senate, she averred her continuing commitment "to strengthen cooperation with (North) Macedonia as a strategic partner." She highlighted that the Prespes agreement surmounted an historic hurdle, so its implementation is regionally important.[10] Upon her appointment, acting Assistant Secretary of State Philip Reeker saw her appointment as a harbinger of "a new era of bilateral cooperation, as friends and Allies of the Republic of Macedonia."[5] She brought 24 years experience as a diplomat before being appointed to her latest post.[2]

Fulfilling its responsibility under the Foreign Service Act, Section 304(a)(4), as the Committee on Foreign Relations noted, she has a well documented path of competency in extremely demanding positions.[upper-alpha 1]

Awards

Personal

Byrnes is married to a retired naval officer, Larry Scott Gage.[13]

References

Notes
  1. "Ms. Byrnes also served as Public Affairs Counselor at the U.S. Embassy Madrid Spain, 2011 – 2014 and, in a further demonstration of the breadth of her leadership, she served as the U.S. Department of State Senior Civilian Representative to Task Force Bastogne/Bronco, Jalalabad Airfield, Afghanistan, 2010 – 2011. Ms. Byrnes’ distinguished record of leadership, coupled with her considerable experience in European affairs and on the process of accession to NATO and the European Union, make her an excellent candidate to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Macedonia."[12]

Citations
  1. "Kate Marie Byrns Ambassador, US Embassy, North Macedonia". The Economist. The Economist Newspaper Limited. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
  2. "US Ambassador kate Byrnes began her diplomatic mission in Skopje". Oculus News. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
  3. "Kate Marie Byrnes: Russia undermining efforts to cease hostilities in Donbas – May 6, 2017". Kyiv Post. 2017-05-06. Retrieved 2019-10-26.
  4. "President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Individuals to Key Administration Posts". Whitehouse.gov. The White House. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
  5. "Kate Byrnes sworn in as new US Ambassador to the Republic of Macedonia". Meta.mk. June 18, 2019. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
  6. Toosi, Nahal (November 9, 2019). "Pompeo tries to staff up State post-midterms". Politico. Retrieved 2019-10-26.
  7. Rodrigo, Chris Mills (2019-04-10). "White House renominates ambassador after country changes name". The Hill. Retrieved 2019-10-26.
  8. "The New US Ambassador to Macedonia ready to start work, hands over credentials". Trianapost. Trianapost. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  9. "Career Diplomat Kate Marie Byrnes to be U.S Ambassador to Macedonia". Diplopundit. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
  10. Pajaziti, Naser (May 24, 2019). "US senate confirms Kate Marie Byrnes as ambassador to Macedonia". Internet Balkan News Agency. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  11. "Newsletter for 5/28/2019: Kate Marie Byrnes Confirmed as US Amb. to MKD". Balkan Insider. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
  12. "Byrnes Kate Marie – Republic of Macedonia – April 2019 Certificate of Competency". United States Senate. May 15, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  13. "Ambassador Kate Marie Byrnes". U.S. Embassy in North Macedonia. Archived from the original on October 25, 2019. Retrieved 2019-10-26.
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
Jess Baily		 United States Ambassador to North Macedonia
2019–present		 Incumbent
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