A notice published on the US Senate website stated that 49 nominations were approved during the latest confirmation session, including Jennifer Wicks McNamara.

McNamara has more than two decades of experience working at the US Department of State.

Following Senate approval, she officially becomes the first female US ambassador to Vietnam.

In a statement delivered during her nomination hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on December 11, 2025, McNamara described Vietnam as one of the United States’ most important partners in the region.

She also affirmed that “a strong, independent and resilient Vietnam is in the interests of the United States.”

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Jennifer Wicks McNamara during a hearing before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee on December 11, 2025. Photo: US Senate

McNamara also emphasized that Vietnam has provided important support for war legacy programs, including efforts to repatriate the remains of missing US service members.

She said she would support the continuation of programs related to addressing war consequences.

Since November 2012, McNamara has served as director of the Office of Presidential Appointments, working across four US presidential administrations. She is also a career civil servant with nearly 31 years of experience in the US government.

The most recent US ambassador to Vietnam, Marc E. Knapper, departed Hanoi earlier this year.

Vietnam and the United States normalized diplomatic relations in 1995. In September 2023, the two countries upgraded ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The United States is Vietnam’s largest export market, while Vietnam is the eighth-largest trading partner of the US and Washington’s largest trading partner in ASEAN.

Vietnam has consistently emphasized the importance of promoting stable, substantive and effective development of the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Meanwhile, the United States has repeatedly expressed support for a “strong, independent, self-reliant and prosperous Vietnam.”

Tran Thuong