U.S. Ambassador Ebert-Gray Presents Credentials

Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea:

CatherineEbert-Graypresented her credentials to the Acting Governor General of Papua New Guinea, Honorable Theo Zurenuoc, MP, at Government House in Konedobu. Following the ceremony, Ambassador Ebert-Gray officially became the fourteenth United States Ambassador to the Independent State of Papua New Guinea.

The ceremony began with an honor guard at Government House, Konedobu. Mr.Zurenuocwarmly welcomed Ambassador Ebert-Gray and expressed his sincere assurances of their continued bilateral partnership. Ambassador Ebert-Gray highlighted the close, historic bonds between the people of Papua New Guinea and the United States and underscored the U.S. commitment to partnering with Papua New Guinea to achieve sustainable, inclusive, and transparent growth for its citizens and succeeding generations.

Ambassador Ebert-Gray arrived in Port Moresby on February 11, following her December 9, 2015 confirmation by the United States Senate and her swearing-in as the U.S. Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands on January 22, 2016.

Testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on December 1, Ambassador Ebert-Gray said she will “continue to advance the United States’ overarching goal in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu to help foster sustainable, transparent, and inclusive economic growth, and to support host nation efforts to strengthen education, health, and security.”

Prior to her nomination as Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, Ambassador Ebert-Gray served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of Administration’s Office of Logistics Management, a position she held since 2011.Ambassador Ebert-Gray is a Career Member of the United States’ Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor.One of her first assignments as a Foreign Service Officer was to Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Republic of Vanuatu.

Ambassador Ebert-Gray has served over half of her career in the Pacific region. Since entering the Foreign Service in 1988 she has served in Mali, Morocco, Togo, Egypt, Germany, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, and Australia. Throughout her career, she has distinguished herself as a highly effective manager of post operations with the ability to build strong multinational partnerships.