President Donald Trump on Friday nominated Lynne Tracy as the United States’ new ambassador to Armenia, the White House reported.
Tracy is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, currently serving as Senior Advisor for Russia Affairs at the U.S. Department of State.
“The stationing of a new U.S. Ambassador in Yerevan – in the wake of Armenia’s remarkable democratic transition – represents an important milestone in U.S.-Armenia relations and a vital opportunity for the Department of State to affirm the Administration’s commitment to meaningfully expanding both the scope and depth of our bilateral political, economic, and military partnerships,” said Armenian National Committee of American Executive Director Aram Hamparian.
“We look to Ambassador-designate Tracy to speak to specific bilateral priorities – among them a long-overdue Double Tax Treaty, the benefits of a Social Security Totalization Agreement, and the prospect of non-stop U.S. to Armenia flights. Her testimony will also offer the Administration an opportunity – at long last – to end U.S. complicity in Turkey’s denial of the Armenian Genocide, removing the dark shadow that this shameful policy has cast over U.S. relations with Armenians worldwide for the better part of the past century,” added Hamparian.
Previously, she has served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Central Asia in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs at the Department of State, Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, and Principal Officer at the U.S. Embassy Branch Office in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Additionally, Tracy served as the Principal Officer at the U.S. Consulate in Peshawar, Pakistan, where she was awarded the Secretary’s Award for Heroism. She is the recipient of the State Department’s Distinguished Honor Award.
Tracy earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Georgia and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Akron. She speaks Russian.
Since she is a senior advisor for Russia affairs at the SD, she must be well versed on Putin’s ambitions and designs towards Armenia.