Ambassador Michael Michalak Presents His Credentials to President Nguyen Minh Triet

August 20, 2007

In a formal ceremony at the Presidential Palace this morning, the new United States Ambassador to Vietnam, Michael W. Michalak presented his credentials to President Nguyen Minh Triet. President Triet warmly welcomed Ambassador Michalak and wished him success in his new position.

Ambassador Michalak, a career Foreign Service Officer with extensive knowledge and experience in Asia, was sworn in as the United States Ambassador to Vietnam on August 10, 2007 by Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte. Prior to this position, Ambassador Michalak served as the U.S. Senior Official to APEC. In his over 30 years of service with the U.S. Department of State, Mr. Michalak has worked in Tokyo, Japan; Sydney, Australia; Islamabad, Pakistan; Beijing, China; as well as Washington, D.C.

Born in Detroit, Michigan, Mr. Michalak received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Physics from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, and Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., respectively. He received a second Master's degree in Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He speaks Chinese, Japanese and French.

Ambassador Michalak will be joined in Hanoi by his wife and one of his three daughters.