Meridian Extends Fall Welcome to New Chiefs of Mission

Ambassador Rebecca Gonzales, Director of the Office of Foreign Missions, smiles as she shares remarks on the podium on September 13, 2022. Photographed by Oskar Dap. 

On September 14, 2022, Meridian International Center hosted an outdoor evening reception in its scenic Linden Grove to welcome newly arrived chiefs-of-mission to Washington, DC. 

Meridian honors new ambassadors twice a year through Welcome to Washington receptions, which provide Chiefs of Mission with an opportunity to meet and engage with a cross-section of Washington leaders from the government, business, and policy communities.  

Meridian welcomed 13 new ambassadors at this autumn reception. Those in attendance included the ambassadors from the Bahamas, Cambodia, Denmark, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Indonesia, Ireland, Mali, Mongolia, Panama, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, Tanzania, and Vietnam.  

Other notable guests included Under Secretary Marisa Lago (Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade), The Hon. Piper Campbell (Ambassador to Mongolia, 2012-2015), Alicia Adams (VP of International Programming, The Kennedy Center), Glenn Nye (former Congressman VA-2), The Hon. Michelle Giuda (former Under Secretary of State), and The Hon. Ann Stock(, Meridian Chair). Meridian’s Board of Trustees, Diplomatic Engagement Advisory Committee, Global Leadership Council and Corporate Council were also well-represented. 

Meridian CEO Ambassador Stuart Holliday and Ambassador Rebecca Gonzales, Director of the Office of Foreign Missions at the State Department, provided special remarks welcoming the newly arrived ambassadors and highlighting the pivotal role they play in continued international cooperation.  

This reception was generously supported by Abbott Laboratories.