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Peter Kechichian
AAANews Blog
The Obama Administration has announced Richard M. Mills, Jr. as the nominee for the position of U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Armenia.
In a statement released yesterday Obama said, “I am grateful that these impressive individuals have chosen to dedicate their talents to serving the American people at this important time for our country. I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead.”
If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, he will replace the current ambassador in Yerevan, John Heffern, who has held the position since 2011. Mills’ nomination will first be considered in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee under Chairman Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ). A date has not yet been announced for the Senate confirmation hearings.
A career diplomat, Richard M. Mills, Jr., has held numerous diplomatic positions. Currently, he is the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon.
He has also had diplomatic experience with Armenia in the past. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, he was the desk officer at the State Department for the newly independent Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Mills has also held positions in Malta, Paris, St. Petersburg and Dublin among others.
He is a graduate of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. He also holds a law degree from the University Of Texas School Of Law as well as a Masters Degree in International Security Affairs from the National Defense University.