Dorothy Shea

Dorothy Shea is an American diplomat who has served as the United States Ambassador to Lebanon since 2020.

Dorothy Shea
United States Ambassador to Lebanon
Assumed office
March 11, 2020
PresidentDonald Trump
Joe Biden
Preceded byElizabeth Holzhall Richard
Personal details
NationalityAmerican
EducationUniversity of Virginia (B.A.)
Georgetown University (M.S.)
National War College (M.S.)

Education

Shea earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia, a Master of Science from Georgetown University, and a Master of Science from the National War College.[1]

Career

She is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor. She had served as Deputy Principal Officer at the United States Consulate General in Jerusalem, as Director of the Office of Assistance for Asia and the Near East in the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, and as a Pearson Fellow with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. She was also the Political/Economic Counselor at the United States Embassy in Tunis, Tunisia, a Political Officer at the United States Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel, a Director for Democracy and Human Rights at the National Security Council, and a Special Assistant to the Special Envoy for War Crimes Issues in the United States Department of State.[1] Prior to her appointment as Ambassador she served as Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy, Cairo, Egypt from 2017 to 2020.[2]

United States Ambassador to Lebanon
Shea with Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab

On October 11, 2019, President Trump announced his intent to nominate Shea to be the next United States Ambassador to Lebanon. On October 17, 2019, her nomination was sent to the United States Senate.[3] On December 17, 2019, a hearing was held on her nomination before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.[4] On January 15, 2020 her nomination was reported out of committee. On February 11, 2020, her nomination was confirmed by voice vote.[5] She presented her credentials to President Michel Aoun on March 11, 2020.[6]

Media ban

In June 2020, Judge Mohammad Mazeh, accused her of interference in Lebanon's internal affairs and violating the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. He passed an order preventing her from making any public statement, as well as forbidding any local or foreign media outlet working in Lebanon from conducting interviews with her or they will face a $200,000 fine.[7][8] However, the decision wasen't implemented, and Mazeh was called to appear before the Judicial Inspection Board. He refused and submitted his resignation.[9][10] Justice Minister Marie-Claude Najm accepted it on 14 July.[11]

Personal life

Shea speaks French and Arabic.[1]

See also

References
  1. "President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Individuals to Key Administration Posts" White House, October 11, 2019 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. "Shea, Dorothy - Lebanese Republic - November 2019". United States Department of State. November 8, 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  3. "Eighteen Nominations Sent to the Senate", The White House, October 17, 2019
  4. "NOMINATION HEARING: Nominations", Senate Foreign Relations Committee, December 17, 2019
  5. "PN1231 - Nomination of Dorothy Shea for Department of State, 116th Congress (2019-2020)". www.congress.gov. February 11, 2020. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  6. Maloy, TK (2020-03-12). "US Ambassador Dorothy Shea presents her credentials to President Aoun". Retrieved 2020-05-29.
  7. "أمر قضائي بمنع السفيرة الأمريكية في لبنان من الإدلاء بتصريحات.. وردود عاصفة- (فيديو) | سعد الياس". القدس العربي. 2020-06-27. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  8. "Lebanon's media banned from talking to U.S. envoy after Hezbollah critique". NBC News. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  9. Zakhour, Maria (2020-06-30). "Lebanese Judge Resigned After Controversial Decision Against US Ambassador". The961. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  10. "القاضي محمد مازح يستقيل!". الجمهورية (in Arabic). Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  11. "Najm avalise la démission du juge Mazeh". L'Orient-Le Jour. 2020-07-14. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
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