Mario A. Fernandez assumed responsibilities as Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in June 2023.  He previously served as Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Mauritius and Seychelles.

Mario served most recently as Economic Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, where he also served as Acting Deputy Chief of Mission.  Prior to that assignment, Mario served as the Director of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, he has served in political and INL sections at U.S. Embassies in Iraq, Nicaragua, Philippines, Portugal, Peru, and the Dominican Republic.

Before joining the Foreign Service, Mario practiced law for several years. He holds degrees from the U.S. Army War College, the University of Texas at Austin, Georgetown University Law Center, and Harvard University JFK School of Government. Mario and his USAID spouse, Diana, have three college-aged sons.