Overview

• Heidi N. Gómez Rápalo was officially named Chargée d’Affaires ad interim on July 21, taking charge of the U.S. mission in Buenos Aires after Abigail Dressel’s departure and a brief interim tenure by Lydia Barraza.
• She will oversee embassy operations until Peter Lamelas, President Trump’s nominee for ambassador, secures confirmation from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and will then transition to deputy chief of mission.
• Gómez Rápalo brings more than 25 years of diplomatic service across Latin America, Asia and Africa, including a prior posting at the Argentina embassy.
• Her recent role as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Affairs at the State Department involved promoting Open Skies agreements and protecting Freedom of the Seas.
• She holds a master’s in National Security Strategy from the National War College, a master’s in Public Affairs from Princeton and a bachelor’s in Foreign Service from Georgetown and has received the Raphel Memorial and Hunt awards.