The U.S. State Department has named Ambassador Henry Wooster as the new Chargé d’Affaires at the United States Embassy in Haiti, effective June 12.
The announcement was made in a statement by Secretary of State Marco Rubio on May 30.
Ambassador Wooster, a seasoned diplomat with more than three decades of service, will now lead a whole-of-government approach to U.S. policy in Haiti. His new role involves working closely with international partners to bolster support for Haitian security forces and guide strategic U.S. engagement in the Caribbean nation.
“I’m pleased to announce that Ambassador Henry Wooster will take on the role of Chargé d’Affaires at the United States Embassy in Haiti beginning June 12. Ambassador Wooster has been charged with leading a whole-of-government approach to U.S. policy on Haiti,” said Secretary Rubio.
“Ambassador Wooster has had a long and distinguished career, including service at Embassy Port au Prince, as Ambassador to Jordan, and in the U.S. Army. Given his extensive background in Washington and his proven leadership record overseas, he is the right person to lead this mission at a critical time.”
Secretary Rubio also thanked former Ambassador Dennis Hankins for his service and leadership.
Wooster’s distinguished foreign service career includes previous assignments in volatile and high-stakes environments. He served as the U.S. Ambassador to Jordan from 2020 to 2023, Deputy Chief of Mission in both Paris and Amman, and Political Counselor in Islamabad. He has also held influential policy roles in Washington, including Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Maghreb and Egypt and Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Iran.
A career member of the Senior Foreign Service with the rank of Minister-Counselor, Wooster brings a unique blend of field and policy experience. He is also a former U.S. Army Reserve officer, serving from 1985 to 2009.
Henry Wooster is also fluent in French and Russian, and proficient in Arabic, Persian, and Aramaic.
The move comes at a pivotal moment for U.S.-Haiti relations, as Washington continues to work with regional and global stakeholders to address Haiti’s security, governance, and humanitarian challenges.
