Home2019 Certificates of Competency for Nominees to be Chiefs of Mission ...Hennessey-Niland, John – Republic of Palau – October 2019 hide Hennessey-Niland, John – Republic of Palau – October 2019 Certificate of Competency REPORT FOR THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS UNITED STATES SENATE SUBJECT: Ambassadorial Nomination: Certificate of Demonstrated Competence — Foreign Service Act, Section 304(a)(4) POST: Republic of Palau CANDIDATE: John Hennessey-Niland John Hennessey-Niland, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Counselor, has served as Political Counselor at U.S. Embassy Canberra, Australia since 2017. Previously he was the Foreign Policy Advisor (POLAD) to U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific, at Camp Smith, Hawaii, 2014-2017, and served as the Pol-Econ Chief at U.S. Embassy Suva, Fiji, 1997-2001. Previous diplomatic assignments include Deputy Chief of Mission and later Chargé d’Affaires at U.S. Embassy Dublin, Ireland, 2010-2013, and Director at the National Security Council for the G-20/G-7, 2009-2010. Mr. Hennessey-Niland has served over 30 years in the Foreign Service. His regional knowledge, interagency experience, security policy acumen and leadership and management skills make him an excellent candidate to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Palau. Mr. Hennessey-Niland’s other assignments include: Director for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, U.S. Embassy Islamabad; Economic Officer, U.S. Embassy Paris; Department of State Desk Officer for Denmark/Norway and European Union; Member of the U.S. Staff at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and Director for Government Affairs at the U.S. Organizing Committee for the 1994 World Cup. Mr. Hennessey-Niland earned a B.A. magna cum laude at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts, a MALD at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and completed long term training at France’s École National D’Administration where he earned a Diplome, summa cum laude. He speaks French and Dutch. He is the recipient of eight State Department Superior and Meritorious Honor Awards, the Department of State POLAD of the Year Award, and the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Medal.
