Jennifer Wicks McNamara
Jennifer Wicks | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2026 | |
| United States Ambassador to Vietnam | |
| Assumed office July 6, 2026 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Marc Knapper |
| Director of the Office of Presidential Appointments | |
| In office November 2012 – June 2026 | |
| President | Barack Obama Donald Trump Joe Biden |
Jennifer Wicks McNamara[1] is an American diplomat who serves as the incumbent United States ambassador to Vietnam. Having her nomination confirmed on 18 May 2026 and she presented her credentials to the President of Vietnam on 6 July 2026, she is the first woman to hold the post.[2][3]
Career
In her nominee statement to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on 11 December 2025, Wicks McNamara stated that Vietnam is one of the most important partners of the U.S. in the region, and "a strong, independent, and resilient Vietnam is in the United States’ interest".[4] Wicks McNamara also noted that Vietnam has provided critical assistance for the American war legacy programs, including the repatriation of U.S. soldiers’ remains, and that she would support the continuation of such war legacy programs.[4]
Since November 2012, Wicks has served as the Director of the Office of Presidential Appointments, serving four U.S. administrations, and as a career Civil Service employee with nearly 31 years of experience in the U.S. government.[5]
References
- ↑ "Ambassador". U.S. Mission to Vietnam.
- ↑ "Jennifer Wicks McNamara confirmed as first female US ambassador to Vietnam". Tuoi Tre. May 20, 2026.
- ↑ Thune, John (April 30, 2026). "Text - S.Res.690 - 119th Congress (2025-2026): An executive resolution authorizing the en bloc consideration in Executive Session of certain nominations on the Executive Calendar". www.congress.gov. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
- 1 2 Wicks McNamara, Jennifer (December 11, 2025). "Statement of Jennifer Wicks McNamara Nominee to be U.S. Ambassador to Socialist Republic of Vietnam" (PDF). foreign.senate.gov.
- ↑ "Wicks Mcnamara, Jennifer - Socialist Republic of Vietnam - January 2026". United States Department of State. January 20, 2026. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
