Full Biography
The Honorable Michael A. Hammer was sworn in as the U.S. Ambassador to Chile in March 2014. A career member of the U.S. Senior Foreign Service since 1988, he has served in various diplomatic posts across the world, including in Bolivia, Norway, Iceland, and Denmark. Prior to his nomination as Ambassador, he served as the State Department’s Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs from March 2012 to August 2013, as Acting Assistant Secretary, and as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs. Prior to his work in the Bureau of Public Affairs, Ambassador Hammer served at the White House as special assistant to the President, Senior Director for Press and Communications, and National Security Council Spokesman from January 2009 to January 2011. He previously served at the National Security Council as Deputy Spokesman from 1999-2000 and Director of Andean Affairs from 2000-2001. He has received several awards in his career, including the Department’s Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Public Diplomacy. Hammer holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and holds two Master’s degrees from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and from the National War College at the National Defense University.