Chacón Begins as Diplomat in Residence in September 2017
September 18, 2017
UNC Global Affairs
Arnold A. Chacón
In September, Arnold A. Chacón begins service as the Diplomat in Residence (DIR) for the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. A member of the career Senior Foreign Service, Chacón most recently served as director general of the Foreign Service and director of human resources at the Department of State. Chacón will be jointly hosted by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University.
The Diplomats in Residence are career Foreign Service officers who are located throughout the United States and are responsible for providing guidance and advice to students, professionals and the community in general about careers and opportunities in the U.S. Department of State. Diplomats in residence are available to answer questions and share insight with those interested in Foreign and Civil Service careers, internships and fellowships. During their tenure, they visit with students at universities, colleges, and community colleges in their region.
In his previous role, Ambassador Chacón led a team of 800 civil and Foreign Service employees who carry out the full range of human resources activities essential to recruiting, retaining and sustaining the U.S. Department of State’s 75,000-strong workforce.
Ambassador Chacón has served in a number of leadership positions in Latin America and Europe, including U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala from 2011 to 2014 and deputy chief of mission in Madrid. He has also served as the Department of State’s deputy executive secretary and at the United States Mission to the United Nations.
Ambassador Chacón has led initiatives to promote work force diversity and inclusion, free and fair elections, respect for human rights and the rule of law. He has also directed crisis-management operations, worked with international partners to combat human trafficking and advanced regional free trade agreements.
“We’re excited to welcome Ambassador Chacón,” said Ron Strauss, executive vice provost and chief international officer for UNC. “These are challenging times in international relations and for the Foreign Service, and our students will benefit from his vast experience in regions around the world.”
In addition to having an office at the FedEx Global Education Center, Ambassador Chacon will be living as a scholar in residence in Winston Residence Hall. Ambassador Chacón’s residence will enable him to meet with students, coffee-house style, to talk about global issues and the Foreign Service.
Ambassador Chacón was a fellow at the American Political Science Association and is the recipient of the Department of State’s Presidential Rank Award and other leadership honors. He received an undergraduate degree in international affairs from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He speaks Spanish and Italian.
As the diplomat in residence, Ambassador Chacón follows Jasper R. Daniels, a senior Foreign Service officer with three decades of experience in the Department of State in Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia and Europe.
Learn more about the Diplomat in Residence program and the work of previous diplomats in residence.