Jennifer Wicks McNamara sworn in as first-ever female US ambassador to Vietnam

Jennifer Wicks McNamara has been sworn in as the U.S. ambassador to Vietnam during a ceremony in Washington, D.C., following her confirmation by the U.S. Senate.

The U.S. Embassy in Vietnam announced Thursday that McNamara took the oath of office in the U.S. capital on June 15.

In a post on its official Facebook page, the embassy congratulated Ambassador Jennifer Wicks McNamara and shared photos from her swearing-in ceremony.

Jennifer Wicks McNamara (R) is sworn in as U.S. ambassador to Vietnam. Photo by U.S. Embassy in Hanoi

On May 18, the U.S. Senate approved her nomination as the first female U.S. ambassador to Vietnam, with 46 votes in favor and 43 against, according to the Congress website. Her predecessor, Marc Knapper, concluded his tenure on Jan. 18.

Under U.S. procedures, after Senate confirmation, an ambassador travels to the host country and presents credentials to the head of state, formally beginning the diplomatic assignment.

According to a Certificate of Competency for Nominees to be Chiefs of Mission released by the U.S. Department of State on Oct. 29, 2025, McNamara is a career public servant with nearly 31 years of experience in the U.S. government.

She began her government career in the U.S. Army, serving in South Korea before assignments in Hawaii and Virginia.

In 2003, she joined the U.S. Department of State and held a number of positions, including Chief of Staff in the Office of U.S. Foreign Assistance Resources, Senior Advisor for Legislative and Public Affairs to the Under Secretary of State for Management, and Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of State for Administration.

Since November 2012 she has served as director of the Office of Presidential Appointments at the White House, a role she has held across four presidential administrations. In that position she has guided roughly 1,000 candidates for senior, Senate-confirmed State Department posts, in effect shepherding other nominees through the same process she has now completed herself.

Jennifer Wicks McNamara during an event in which she is sworn in as U.S. ambassador to Vietnam. Photo by U.S. Embassy in Hanoi

In her opening statement before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in December 2025, she reaffirmed President Donald Trump’s and Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s commitment to viewing Vietnam as one of the United States’ most important partners in the region.

"A strong, independent, and resilient Vietnam is in the United States’ best interests."

"If confirmed, I will advocate foremost for U.S. interests in this vibrant bilateral relationship, focusing on defense and security cooperation, trade and investment, and people to people ties," she said.

She added that: "Bilateral trade with Vietnam has grown enormously in recent years and the opportunity for shared economic growth is significant, yet the current trade relationship is imbalanced."

"If confirmed, I will promote equitable market access for U.S. goods and services including technology, energy, and agricultural products, support the development of resilient diversified supply chains, and encourage Vietnamese investment in the United States."