Jonathan Don Farrar (born 1956) was the

United States Ambassador to the Republic of Panama The United States has maintained diplomatic relations with Panama since its separation from Colombia in 1903. The rank of the U.S. chief of mission to Panama was originally Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, but it was upgraded to A ...

from 2012 to 2015. He was previously the Chief of Mission of the

United States Interests Section in Havana The United States Interests Section of the Embassy of Switzerland in Havana, Cuba or USINT Havana (the State Department telegraphic address) represented United States interests in Cuba from September 1, 1977, to July 20, 2015. It was staffed by ...

, Cuba, from July 2008 to September 2011.

Background information

Farrar joined the

U.S. State Department The United States Department of State (DOS), or State Department, is an executive department of the U.S. federal government responsible for the country's foreign policy and relations. Equivalent to the ministry of foreign affairs of other nati ...

in 1980 as an economic officer, and is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service. He was born in Los Angeles, California, graduated from Covina High School, and studied at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona,

Claremont Graduate University The Claremont Graduate University (CGU) is a private, all-graduate research university in Claremont, California. Founded in 1925, CGU is a member of the Claremont Colleges which includes five undergraduate (Pomona College, Claremont McKenna Co ...

, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Farrar is married and has three children.

Career

Farrar's career includes extensive experience in Latin America. His most recent overseas posting was as the Deputy Chief of Mission in Montevideo, Uruguay. Farrar also served at the U.S. embassies in Mexico, Belize, and Paraguay. Prior to assuming his position as USINT COM, Farrar served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL), and was DRL's Acting Assistant Secretary from August 2007 to March 2008. In this capacity, Farrar oversaw DRL's human rights and democracy programs around the world, with a particular focus on Asia and the Western Hemisphere. From 2004 to 2005, Farrar served as a Deputy Assistant Secretary in the State Department's

Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) is an agency that reports to the Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights within the Department of State. Under the umbrella of its general mis ...

(INL), with responsibility for INL's programs in the Western Hemisphere, Africa, Asia, and Europe. Farrar has held a variety of domestic assignments in the State Department's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, including service as deputy director of the Office of Andean Affairs and as country desk officer for Argentina. Farrar served twice on the staff of the

Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs The Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs is a former position within the United States Department of State that, according to the Department website, "coordinates U.S. foreign relations on a variety of global issues, including democracy ...

, most recently as chief of staff to the Under Secretary from 2002 to 2004.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Farrar, Johnathan Don 1956 births Living people People from Covina, California California State Polytechnic University, Pomona alumni United States Department of State officials Ambassadors of the United States to Cuba Claremont Graduate University alumni Ambassadors of the United States to Panama United States Foreign Service personnel Obama administration personnel