US Ambassador-designate Yael Lempert arrives in Jordan to assume duties

AMMAN — US Ambassador-designate Yael Lempert presented her credentials to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriate on Monday.

Ambassador-designate Lempert noted: “I am deeply honoured to serve as the newAmbassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. I look forward to further strengthening the strategic US-Jordan partnership.”

A career member of the US Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counsellor,Yael Lempert was nominated by President Biden to serve as US Ambassador to Jordan on January 3, 2023. Her nomination was confirmed by the US Senate on July 27, and was sworn into her ambassadorial position by US Vice President Kamala Harris on August 10, according to a US embassy statement.

Prior to her tenure in Jordan, Ambassador-designate Lempert served as Acting Assistant Secretary and as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs.  

Among her assignments, Ambassador-designate Lempert was Chargé d'Affaires at the US Embassy in London from January to July 2021, and previously served as Deputy Chief of Mission there for two years. Ambassador-designate Lempert was also Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Egypt and North Africa from June 2017 to December 2018, and the Senior Director for the Levant, Israel and Egypt at the National Security Council from 2014 to 2017.  She also served as Special Assistant to the President from 2015 to 2017.

Ambassador-designate Lempert has extensive expertise in the Middle East and North Africa, having served prior tours in Jerusalem, Tripoli, Cairo and Baghdad.  Other previous assignments include Director for Iraq at the National Security Council and Special Assistant for South Asian and Near Eastern Affairs to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs.

A native of Ithaca, NY, Ambassador-designate Lempert earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and is the recipient of several State Department Superior and Meritorious Honor awards. 

She was awarded a Presidential Rank Award in 2019, and the National Security Council’s Outstanding Service Award in 2017.