Robert F. Godec

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Robert Frank Godec
Robert F. Godec.jpg
Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs
Acting
In office
January 20, 2021 – September 30, 2021
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byTibor P. Nagy Jr.
Succeeded byMary Catherine Phee
United States Ambassador to Kenya
In office
February 15, 2013 – February 1, 2019
PresidentBarack Obama
Donald Trump
Preceded byScott Gration
Succeeded byKyle McCarter
United States Ambassador to Tunisia
In office
January 17, 2007 – July 29, 2009
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Barack Obama
Preceded byWilliam J. Hudson
Succeeded byGordon Gray
Personal details
Born1956 (age 64–65)
Rantoul, Illinois
NationalityAmerican
Spouse(s)Lori G. Magnusson
Alma materUniversity of Virginia
Yale University
OccupationDiplomat

Robert Frank Godec (born 1956)[1] is an American career diplomat. He is a Career Minister in the Senior Foreign Service and served as the United States Ambassador to Kenya from 2013 to 2019 and the United States Ambassador to Tunisia from 2006 to 2009.[2][3][4] He served as Acting Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of African Affairs from January to September 2021.[5]

Early life and education[]

Godec was born in Rantoul, Illinois, in 1956. He earned a bachelor's degree in Foreign Service from the University of Virginia in 1979[6] and an MA in International Relations from Yale University.[7][8]

Wikileaks[]

In December 2010 a number of classified diplomatic cables written by Godec from Tunisia in 2008 and 2009[9] were released by WikiLeaks and published by Al Akhbar in Beirut.[10] Many of them were highly critical of the public and personal life of the Tunisian president, Zine el Abidine Ben Ali, and his family. Godec mentioned high-level corruption, a "sclerotic" regime, and deep dislike or even hatred for the president's wife, Leila Trabelsi, and her family.[10] There were later suggestions in the press that his comments could have fuelled the Tunisian Revolution, which began in December 2010 and led to the flight of Ben Ali to Saudi Arabia in January 2011.[11]

Personal life[]

Since 1986, Godec has been married to Lori G. Magnusson.[7][12]

References[]

  1. ^ Robert Frank Godec (1956–)
  2. ^ Matt Bewig ([n.d.]) U.S. ambassador to Kenya: Who is Robert Godec?. AllGov.com. Accessed 13 March 2015.
  3. ^ Ambassador Robert F. Godec. Embassy of the United States, Nairobi, Kenya. Accessed 13 March 2015.
  4. ^ Robert F. Godec: U.S. Ambassador to Kenya. Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, for the U.S. Department of State. Accessed 13 March 2015.
  5. ^ Ambassador Robert F. Godec: Acting Assistant Secretary - Bureau of African Affairs. Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, for the U.S. Department of State. Accessed 25 January 2021.
  6. ^ "| Undergraduate, U.Va". college.as.virginia.edu. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Godec, Robert". www.allgov.com. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  8. ^ "Robert F. Godec". United States Department of State. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  9. ^ [Robert Godec] (7 December 2010). US embassy cables: Tunisia - a US foreign policy conundrum. The Guardian. Accessed March 2015.
  10. ^ a b Ian Black (7 December 2010). WikiLeaks cables: Tunisia blocks site reporting 'hatred' of first lady. The Guardian. Accessed March 2015.
  11. ^ [s.n.] (15 January 2011). Wikileaks might have triggered Tunis’ revolution. Dubai: Al Arabiya News. Accessed March 2015.
  12. ^ "Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 7 - EXECUTIVE REPORTS OF COMMITTEES". www.govinfo.gov. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
William J. Hudson
 United States Ambassador to Tunisia
2006 – 2009 		Succeeded by
Preceded by United States Ambassador to Kenya
2013 – 2019 		Succeeded by
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