Nomination of Genta Hawkins Holmes To Be Director General of the Foreign Service

The President today announced his intention to nominate Genta Hawkins Holmes, of California, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, to be Director General of the Foreign Service. She would succeed Edward J. Perkins.

Ambassador Holmes currently serves as U.S. Ambassador to Namibia, 1990 - present. She has also served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Pretoria, South Africa, 1988 - 89; Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, 1986 - 88; and Lilongwe, Malawi, 1984 - 86. Ambassador Holmes has also served at the State Department in several other positions, including international affairs officer at the Bureau of African Affairs, 1983; participant in the Senior Seminar at the State Department, 1982; and at the Agency for International Development as Assistant Administrator for Legislative Affairs and as Acting Administrator, 1979 - 81.

Ambassador Holmes graduated from the University of Southern California (A.B., 1962). She was born September 3, 1940, in Anadarko, OK. Ambassador Holmes is married and currently resides in San Francisco, CA.