Ms. Sullivan, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, has served as an American diplomat since 1986. She is currently Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs in the Department of State, a position she has held since 2017. Previously, she served as the United States Ambassador to the Republic of Congo and Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources in addition to other senior-level leadership positions at the Department of State. A seasoned Africa-hand, she previously served in Accra, Ghana as political chief. First-rate leadership and management skills, together with prior collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development and the United States military, will enable her to promote good governance, economic development, and regional security. Ms. Sullivan earned a B.A. at Brown University and a M.S. at the National Defense University. She is the recipient of 20 senior Department of State awards and a Sustained Superior Performance Award from the Peace Corps. Ms. Sullivan speaks French, Lingala, and basic Spanish.