Kevin Whitaker

Kevin Whitaker (Col ’79 L/M) returned to the United States in August 2019 after five and a half years of service as U.S. Ambassador to Colombia. The longest-serving ambassador to Colombia in a century, he oversaw U.S. relations with Colombia during a historically significant moment—the peace process with the FARC terrorist organization—and worked with two U.S. and two Colombian administrations.  Ambassador Whitaker entered the Foreign Service immediately after graduation from UVA. Prior to his confirmation as ambassador in 2014, he served in various senior positions in his 40 years of service, and attained the rank of career minister, the second-highest rank in the Foreign Service.