Jeff Hovenier
Jeff Hovenier | |
|---|---|
| United States Ambassador to Kosovo | |
| In office January 10, 2022 – December 30, 2024 | |
| President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Philip S. Kosnett |
| Succeeded by | Anu Prattipati (Chargé d'affaires ad interim) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jeffrey Hovenier |
| Education | Brigham Young University (BA) Georgetown University (MA) |
Jeffrey M. Hovenier is a retired[1] American diplomat who served as the United States ambassador to Kosovo from 2022 to 2024.
Early life and education
Hovenier was raised in Bellingham, Washington. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in international relations from Brigham Young University and a Master of Arts in government and international relations from Georgetown University.[2]
Career
A former member of the Senior Foreign Service, Hovenier served in Peru, Croatia, Greece, Panama, Germany, and Paraguay, in addition to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Hovenier also served as the director for Central and Southeastern European affairs for the United States National Security Council.[3] Hovenier also served in the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Turkey as its charge d’affaires from August 2018 to July 2019,[2][4] and Deputy Chief of Mission from August 2018 to July 2021, when Scott M. Oudkirk assumed his post as Deputy Chief of Mission.[2][5]
United States ambassador to Kosovo
On July 2, 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Hovenier to serve as United States Ambassador to Kosovo.[6][7] On October 5, 2021, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.[8] On October 19, 2021, his nomination was reported favorably out of committee.[9] The United States Senate confirmed him on November 18, 2021, by voice vote. He presented his credentials to President Vjosa Osmani in Pristina on January 10, 2022.[10]
Retirement from Foreign Service
Ambassador Hovenier retired from the Department of State in December 2024.[1]
Atlantic Council
Hovenier currently serves as a non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council.[11]
Personal life
Hovenier speaks German, Greek, Croatian, and Spanish.
References
- ^ a b Si, Nen (December 10, 2024). "Ambassador Hovenier leaves Kosovo in December: I will retire". Euronews Albania. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Deputy Chief of Mission Jeffrey M. Hovenier". U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Turkey. Archived from the original on May 18, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
- ^ "President Biden Announces Seven Key Nominations". The White House. July 2, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
- ^ "Jeffrey Hovenier, U.S. charge d'affaires, summoned by Turkey over Twitter 'like'". The Washington Times. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
- ^ "Deputy Chief of Mission Scott M. Oudkirk". U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Turkey. 2021. Archived from the original on July 28, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
- ^ "Biden picks Penn president for Germany ambassador". GreenwichTime. July 2, 2021. Archived from the original on July 11, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
- ^ "Jeff Hovenier, new US Ambassador to Kosovo – Latest News | Kosovo Now". July 2, 2021. Archived from the original on April 21, 2022. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
- ^ "PN779 - Nomination of Jeffrey M. Hovenier for Department of State, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". www.congress.gov. October 19, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
- ^ "SFRC APPROVES 33 CRITICAL FOREIGN POLICY NOMINATIONS" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. October 19, 2021. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
- ^ "Ambassador Hovenier Presenting His Credentials". U.S. Embassy in Kosovo. January 10, 2022. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
- ^ "Jeffrey Hovenier". Atlantic Council. Retrieved May 21, 2025.