Cefkin, Judith Beth, 1953-

Ms. Cefkin is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, rank of Minister -Counselor. On November 19, 2014 the U.S. Senate confirmed her nomination to serve as the next U.S. Ambassador to Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu. Prior to this Ms. Cefkin served as the State Department’s Senior Advisor for Burma. Other recent assignments included Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand (2010-2013), and DCM at the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (2006-2009).

Ms. Cefkin entered the Foreign Service in 1983. Her other overseas postings have included the Philippines, France, Mexico, and an earlier tour in Thailand. In Washington, Ms. Cefkin has served in the Office of Central African Affairs, the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, and the Office of European Union and Regional Affairs. She also served as Deputy Director of the Office of Western European Affairs and as Director of the Office of Nordic and Baltic Affairs. In 2009, Ms. Cefkin did a brief stint on the Foreign Service Board of Examiners.

Prior to entering the Foreign Service, Ms. Cefkin worked as a television news producer at network news affiliates in Denver and Houston. She also worked in Congress's Office of Technology Assessment and as a legislative intern in the U.S. Senate. She received a B.A. in Government from Smith College (1975), followed by a Masters in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science (1977).

<p>Judith Beth Cefkin (born in 1953) is a diplomat and former United States Ambassador to Fiji. She formerly served concurrently as the ambassador to Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu, while resident in Suva, Fiji. She was nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the Senate on November 19, 2014. Her term began January 5, 2015.</p>

<p>Cefkin was born in Colorado to Rose (née Mackanick) and John Leo Cefkin. She grew up in Ft. Collins, where he father was a professor of political science at Colorado State University. Cefkin attended Smith College, where she earned a B.A. in Government in 1975. She then studied at the London School of Economics and Political Science, earning a master's degree in International Relations in 1977.</p>

<p>After completing graduate studies, Cefkin became a television news producer. She worked as a legislative intern in Washington, D.C. and also worked in the Office of Technology Assessment for Congress.</p>

<p>In 1983 Cefkin embarked on a career in the Foreign Service. Her assignments have included ones in Thailand, France, Mexico and The Philippines. She served as deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok. In addition to English she speaks French, Thai, Bosnian and Spanish.</p>