Richard Lee Buangan is an American diplomat who has served as United States ambassador to Mongolia since November 2022.
Richard Buangan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Ambassador to Mongolia | |
| Assumed office November 17, 2022 | |
| President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Michael S. Klecheski |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Richard Lee Buangan San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Education | St. Edward's University (BA) |
Early life and education
editBorn and raised in a Filipino American family in San Diego,[1] Buangan earned a Bachelor of Science degree in political science and economics from St. Edward's University.[2]
Career
editBuangan is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, with the rank of Minister-Counselor. He currently serves as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Global Public Affairs at the U.S State Department. Previously, Buangan served as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, and as the Executive Assistant to then Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Earlier, Buangan served as managing director for International Media in the Bureau of Public Affairs, as the Public Affairs Officer of the then-U.S. Consulate General, Jerusalem, and as Deputy Press Attaché and then as Embassy Spokesperson of the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, China. Buangan had also served as a staff officer in the Executive Secretariat of the Department of State, and held overseas assignments in Paris, France and Abidjan, Ivory Coast.[3]
During his career, Buangan served as an embassy spokesman.[4]
United States ambassador to Mongolia
editOn April 22, 2022, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Buangan to be the next United States ambassador to Mongolia.[3] On April 25, 2022, his nomination was sent to the Senate.[5] Hearings on his nomination were held before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on July 13, 2022. The committee favorably reported his nomination to the Senate floor on July 19, 2022. His nomination was confirmed by the full Senate via voice vote on August 5, 2022.[6] He was sworn into office on October 12, 2022.[7] He arrived in the country on October 20, 2022.[8] He presented his credentials to President Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh on November 17, 2022.[9]
Awards and recognitions
editBuangan has won multiple performance awards from the State Department.[3]
Personal life
editBuangan speaks Mandarin Chinese, French, and Spanish.[3]
References
edit- ^ Richard Buangan (May 26, 2022). "Opinion: As a diplomat, I share the story of Asian Americans worldwide. Your story matters, too". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
- ^ "Richard Buangan". United States Department of State. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
- ^ a b c d "President Biden Announces Key Nominees". The White House. April 15, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Ho, Pin; Huang, Wenguang (April 2, 2013). A Death in the Lucky Holiday Hotel: Murder, Money, and an Epic Power Struggle in China. PublicAffairs. ISBN 978-1-61039-274-7.
- ^ "Nominations and Withdrawals Sent to the Senate" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: The White House. April 25, 2022. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ "PN1961 - Nomination of Richard Lee Buangan for Department of State, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". www.congress.gov. July 19, 2022. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
- ^ "Filipino American Ambassador Richard Buangan Sworn-in as U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia". US-Philippines Society. October 4, 2022. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
- ^ @USAmbMongolia (October 20, 2022). "Hello everyone! I just landed in Ulaanbaatar this morning and am excited to arrive in Mongolia, my new home. Looking forward to engaging with you all here and in person. It is an honor to work represent the USA 🇺🇸 here in your great and beautiful country 🇲🇳" (Tweet). Retrieved November 1, 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ "New U.S. Ambassador Presents Credentials to President Khurelsukh". United States Department of State. November 17, 2022. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
