US Appoints P. Michael McKinley as New Ambassador to Afghanistan

Ambassador P. Michael McKinley assumed his current position as U.S. Deputy Ambassador to Afghanistan on September 28, 2013. Previously, he served as U.S. Ambassador to Colombia from August, 2010 – August, 2013 and U.S. Ambassador to Peru from 2007-2010.

Ambassador McKinley was Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Mission to the European Union in Brussels between 2004 and 2007. From 2001-2004, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration. Between 1994 and 2001, Ambassador McKinley was Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé d’ Affaires at U.S. Embassies in Mozambique, Uganda, and Belgium. Earlier assignments include U.S. Embassy London (1990-94), three tours in Washington (1985-90), and Bolivia (1983-85). Ambassador McKinley joined the Foreign Service in 1982.

Ambassador McKinley was born in Venezuela and grew up in Brazil, Mexico, Spain, and the United States. He did his undergraduate and graduate studies in the United Kingdom, and has a doctorate from Oxford University. His history of colonial Venezuela was published by Cambridge University Press as part of its Latin America series, and has also appeared in a Spanish edition.

Mr. P. Michael McKinley has been introduced by the US President Barak Obama to the parliament after receiving the trust votes he will be the US Ambassador to Afghanistan after the current US Ambassador JamesB. Cunningham.

His appointment comes after those US combat forces to handover the combat mission responsibility on 31th of December 2014 to Afghanistan security forces and will open up new chapter of cooperation for Afghanistan and its security forces which are advising, training and supports.