Trinidad-born Jennifer Carroll nominated as next US ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago

United States President Donald Trump has nominated Trinidad-born former Florida lieutenant governor Jennifer Carroll to serve as the next US ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, a post that requires Senate confirmation before she can assume the role.

If confirmed, Carroll would replace outgoing ambassador Candace A. Bond, whose tenure ended on Jan. 20, 2025.

The American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago (AMCHAM T&T) welcomed the nomination, describing it as an important step in the appointment process and a reflection of the longstanding relationship between Trinidad and Tobago and the United States.

AMCHAM also noted that Carroll would become the first Trinidad and Tobago-born woman to serve as US ambassador to the country, calling it a milestone that underscores the influence of the diaspora on the international stage.

Born in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Carroll migrated to the United States at the age of eight and grew up in New York, where she attended Uniondale High School. She enlisted in the US Navy in 1979, beginning a 20-year military career that took her from aviation machinist’s mate to lieutenant commander. During her service, she worked on aircraft maintenance and logistics, later entering leadership roles through the Navy’s commissioning programs before retiring in 1999.

Following her military service, Carroll pursued higher education, earning an associate degree from Leeward Community College, a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of New Mexico, and later an MBA. She went on to serve in multiple public-sector roles in Florida, including executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs, where she focused on veterans’ services and policy coordination.

Carroll’s political career included a run for the US House of Representatives before she was elected to the Florida House of Representatives, where she became the first Black woman Republican elected to the state legislature. She later held leadership positions within the chamber, including deputy majority leader and committee chair roles focused on transportation, economic development and finance.

In 2011, she was elected Florida’s 18th lieutenant governor alongside Gov. Rick Scott, making history as the first woman elected to the post, the first Caribbean-born person elected to statewide office in Florida, and the first Black Republican elected to statewide office in the state since Reconstruction. She served until 2013, when she resigned following a state investigation into business ties to a gambling referral service. State authorities later cleared her of wrongdoing.

Carroll has also been active in national policy and civic initiatives, including appointments to federal commissions under former President George W. Bush and later roles under the Trump administration, where she served as a surrogate during the 2016 campaign and was appointed to the American Battle Monuments Commission.

Throughout her career, she has maintained ties to Trinidad and Tobago and has participated in efforts to strengthen trade and investment links between Florida and the Caribbean.

AMCHAM T&T said Carroll’s nomination highlights the deep and enduring relationship between Trinidad and Tobago and the United States, particularly in areas such as trade, investment, energy, security, education and cultural exchange.

“This nomination marks an important step in the appointment process and reflects the continued importance of the longstanding relationship between Trinidad and Tobago and the United States,” the organization said.

The group added that it looks forward to working with the next US ambassador to strengthen cooperation and expand economic opportunities between both countries.

The nomination will now be considered by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee before proceeding to a full Senate vote. Once confirmed, Carroll would assume one of Washington’s key diplomatic posts in the Caribbean region.