Kamala Lakhdhir is in line to be an ambassador.
President Obama has named the 1980 Staples High School graduate as the next US Ambassador to Malaysia. The multi-ethnic, multicultural nation is an economic powerhouse of Asia.
A career member of the Foreign Service, Lakhdhir served as executive assistant to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs from 2011-15. For 2 years before that, she was US Consul General in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
She previously worked as director of the Office of Maritime Southeast Asia; special assistant to the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs; political officer at the US Embassy in Beijing; on US House of Representatives committees and subcommittees, and as a political officer in Indonesia and a consular officer in Saudi Arabia.
Kamala Lakhdhir
Lakhdhir received a BA from Harvard College, and an MS from the National War College.
Her “diplomatic missions” date back to her Westport days. In the mid-1970s — during her Bedford Junior High School days — Lakhdhir supported a girl in Bangladesh, through Save the Children. She did it by giving up half her allowance.
Inspired, Lakhdhir visited the youngster — bringing frisbees, super balls and other tiny gifts to the village.
Her latest appointment must be confirmed by the US Senate.
(Hat tip: Dan Kail)