Ambassador, John “Jeff” Daigle

Jeff Daigle, a career member of the U.S. Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, was sworn in as U.S. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Cabo Verde on June 28, 2019.

Ambassador Daigle joined the Department of State in 1999 and most recently served as the Acting Executive Director for the U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy, which appraises U.S. government activities intended to understand, inform, and influence foreign publics and reports its findings and recommendations to the President, Secretary of State, and Congress.  From December 2016 to July 2018, he served as the Chief of Staff for the Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, assisting with strategic oversight of the Department of State’s $1.2 billion global Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs operations.

Other previous postings include Senior Advisor, Office of Policy, Planning, and Resources (2016); Deputy Coordinator for Products, Bureau of International Information Programs (2014-2016); Deputy Chief of Mission/Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., U.S. Embassy Phnom Penh, Cambodia (2011-2014); Public Diplomacy Policy and Coordination Officer, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs (2009-2011); Public Diplomacy Officer, Babil Provincial Reconstruction Team, Iraq (2008-2009); Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Embassy Phnom Penh, Cambodia (2005-2008); Consul, U.S. Embassy Paris, France (2002-2004); Reporting Officer, U.S. Mission to the United Nations, New York (2001); and Assistant Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Embassy Abuja, Nigeria (1999-2001).

Prior to joining the Foreign Service, Ambassador Daigle held a variety of positions in the private and non-profit sectors.  He was the Executive Director of the Louisiana Environmental Action Network in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (1988-1989); a performer and facilitator of professional development programs at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida (1989-1996); an English teacher in Chiba Prefecture, Japan (1996-1997); and a Regional Corporate Trainer for Hibernia National Bank in Baton Rouge (1998-1999).

Ambassador Daigle has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Louisiana State University.  He has studied French, Khmer, and Portuguese and is the recipient of multiple Meritorious and Superior Honor Awards from the Department of State.