President Barack Obama Preceded by Stephen McFarland Spouse(s) Alida Chacon | President Barack Obama Succeeded by Todd Robinson Name Arnold Chacon | |
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Preceded by Linda Thomas-Greenfield | ||
State Department's Take Your Child to Work Day
Arnold A. Chacón (born 1956) is an American government official. He is currently the Director General of the Foreign Service and Director of Human Resources, at the Department of State. He was previously the United States Ambassador to Guatemala from August 29, 2011, to March 5, 2014. A career U.S. Foreign Service officer, he has served in a number of leadership positions in Latin America and Europe, including Deputy Chief of Mission in Madrid. He has led initiatives to promote free and fair elections, advance respect for human rights, and support rule of law. Ambassador Chacon has also directed crisis management operations, worked with international partners to combat human trafficking, and advanced regional free trade agreements.
Ambassador Chacon has served as the State Department Deputy Executive Director in Washington, D.C. and at the United States Mission to the United Nations. He was a Fellow at the American Political Science Association, and is the recipient of the State Department’s Presidential Rank Award and other leadership honors. He speaks Spanish and Italian.
Ambassador Chacon grew up in Denver and received a bachelor's degree in International Affairs from the University of Colorado at Boulder. His wife of 30 years, Alida Chacon, is also a member of the U.S. Foreign Service. They have three children.