The U.S. Senate has supported the candidacy of Kelly Degnan for post of U.S. Ambassador to Georgia.

Kelly Degnan, U.S. Ambassador-designate to Georgia, delivered a speech at the Foreign Relations Committee of the US Senate on October 29. “We will strengthen support to Georgia in direction of NATO and EU membership. We will work together to strengthen Georgia’s defence of its borders and creation of democratic community. I look forward to working with the Georgian government on these and other issues,” Degnan said.

Degnan currently serves as a political adviser to the commander of the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S. Naval Forces Africa. A native of California, Degnan’s career has spanned 25 years and has included senior diplomatic postings to Italy, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Turkey.

Degnan also served as the deputy executive secretary of the State Department, political counsellor at the U.S. mission to NATO, and special assistant to the secretary of state. Degnan speaks Italian, French, Turkish, and Urdu.

Elizabeth Rudd has served as acting ambassador to Georgia since Ambassador Ian Kelly departed in March 2018.