Good afternoon everyone, and thank you, Michael, for the kind introduction. I extend my gratitude to all of you for being here today. Standing before you as a representative of the U.S. to the UN feels quite surreal, especially considering my own beginnings in Model UN during the 1970s and 80s, from Berkeley to Boston. I vividly recall sitting in your seats, understanding the dedication and effort required for these conferences. The Model UN experience was truly formative, setting me on the path that has led me here today. I also want to acknowledge Secretary General Tsesa Monaghan and the International Model UN Association for their outstanding leadership and commitment to this invaluable program.
It is truly inspiring to witness such a strong interest in the United Nations among you. Regardless of your future career paths, whether in diplomacy or another field entirely, your proactive approach to understanding international cooperation at the UN—and its complexities—is incredibly valuable.
Representing the U.S. as a Foreign Service Officer for over three decades has been a profound honor. My journey with the State Department began during President Reagan’s administration, and I have served under every administration since. From postings in Bangkok to Baghdad, and now as Acting Permanent Representative to the United Nations, I am deeply humbled to lead our Mission’s team of approximately 115 dedicated public servants. Every day, we work diligently to serve the American people here at the UN.
Allow me to share a bit more about my background. Born and raised in California, in Palo Alto and Laguna Beach, my journey towards international affairs began at the age of 14 with the Laguna Beach High School Model UN. Are there any fellow Californians here today? Welcome to New York! My first MUN assignment was representing the UAE, a country I knew little about at the time. By my final high school MUN at UC Riverside, I was leading the US delegation, acting as the Ambassador in the UN Security Council. And here I am, 38 years later, actually representing the U.S. in that very Council. It was a dream realized, and I hope it serves as inspiration for some of you here today.
Since June of last year, I have been working at the UN, initially sworn in as an Ambassador and Deputy to Nikki Haley. Following her departure on January 1st, I assumed the role of Acting Permanent Representative. My daily focus encompasses a broad spectrum of U.S. foreign policy objectives, as defined by the President. These include enhancing the UN’s effectiveness and efficiency, promoting international peace and security, and championing human rights and human dignity globally. Our mission is to ensure the U.S. maintains its leadership on critical issues for American citizens and leverages the UN’s potential to amplify our impact across areas from peacekeeping to humanitarian aid and human rights.
A Career in Diplomacy: Insights from the UN Security Council
Let’s delve into our work within the Security Council. As you know, it comprises 15 members: five permanent and ten elected members serving two-year terms, with the Council Presidency rotating monthly. In September 2018, the U.S. held the presidency, coinciding with the annual General Assembly high-level week—a period when the UN is at the center of global attention and leaders worldwide convene here.
Presiding over the Council provides a crucial opportunity to shape the global security agenda. During our presidency, we convened the Security Council’s inaugural meeting on the situation in Nicaragua. This was in response to escalating government repression, intimidation, and indiscriminate violence, which tragically resulted in hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries. Introducing a new issue to the Security Council’s agenda is a significant undertaking. However, in the case of Nicaragua, we recognized the imperative for the Council to be informed about the situation on the ground. It was essential to understand how initial protests against pension reforms evolved into widespread government repression threatening regional security and to learn about the Organization of American States’ efforts to resolve this severe crisis in our hemisphere.
Furthermore, we organized the Security Council’s first briefing specifically addressing the impact of corruption on global conflicts—both as a catalyst for conflict and an impediment to conflict resolution. While corruption is often considered secondary to peace and security, we firmly believe it can be a fundamental driver of conflict that warrants the Security Council’s attention.
To illustrate the link between corruption and peace and security, we followed up with a public event focused on Venezuela. This event, held seven months prior in September, highlighted how pervasive corruption in Venezuela had precipitated the most severe man-made humanitarian crisis in our hemisphere’s history and one of the worst global humanitarian crises in recent generations, forcing millions of Venezuelans to seek refuge in neighboring countries.
We underscored Maduro’s responsibility for the deepening crisis and the urgent need for increased international community action. The situation in Venezuela has, of course, gained even greater prominence recently. Just last week, Vice President Pence briefed the Security Council on the Venezuelan crisis, urging member states to recognize Juan Guaido’s government and reiterating the United States’ commitment to a peaceful democratic transition in Venezuela.
In both the Security Council and the General Assembly, we consistently raise concerns about human rights violations, even when it is uncomfortable for some members. This unwavering commitment extends to situations in Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, Syria, and elsewhere. Despite some Security Council members’ reluctance to engage in these discussions, we remain resolute in our dedication to exposing the most egregious abuses globally, including bringing them to the UN Security Council’s attention.
Last year, we also spearheaded a landmark resolution in the General Assembly on promoting the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association. Through this resolution, the United States demonstrated its steadfast support for those exercising these rights, particularly human rights defenders, journalists, and youth, and crucially, the rights of all individuals to protest governmental actions they disagree with.
Over my ten months at the UN, the Security Council has addressed critical situations across numerous regions, including the Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Horn of Africa, Mali, South Sudan, Burundi, Libya, Syria, Iran, Iraq, the West Bank, Gaza, Western Sahara, Lebanon, Yemen, Haiti, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Cyprus, Ukraine, and many others. In each instance, we have vocally advocated for U.S. interests, ensuring they are reflected in Security Council decisions and statements—much like each of you do at Model UN conferences, representing the interests of your assigned countries.
Humanitarian Action and Peacekeeping: Core Pillars of a Diplomatic Career
Our work at the UN also heavily emphasizes humanitarian crises and effective humanitarian response. The protracted conflict in Syria has tragically resulted in one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, with millions displaced and hundreds of thousands of civilian casualties. We consistently demand accountability for the Assad regime’s atrocities, including the abhorrent use of chemical weapons against its own people.
Yemen remains another critical focus for my team, where the humanitarian situation is alarmingly dire. The prices of essential commodities—including food and fuel—have skyrocketed, increasing by 137 percent and 261 percent respectively. Humanitarian aid shipments are also facing significant bureaucratic obstacles, hindering the delivery of crucial, life-saving assistance. We are actively working within the Council and with parties on the ground to ensure that food aid reaches those most in need. The United States is committed to doing everything possible to support UN efforts, including those aimed at overseeing the ceasefire, to facilitate a long-overdue peaceful resolution.
We are also deeply involved in efforts to enhance the effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability of UN peacekeeping missions, with a particular focus on improving peacekeeper performance and eradicating sexual exploitation and abuse. On September 21, 2018, during our Security Council presidency, we oversaw the adoption of a groundbreaking UN resolution establishing a transparent reporting process for performance failures. This means that when UN peacekeepers fail to protect civilians, concrete accountability measures will be implemented, along with objective criteria to ensure the right police and troops are assigned to appropriate peacekeeping roles.
UN peacekeepers perform vital and commendable work worldwide, and we are dedicated to providing them with the best possible guidance and support. With approximately 100,000 UN peacekeepers from diverse nations deployed across 15 UN Peacekeeping Missions globally, supporting their missions is a significant privilege.
U.S. Leadership and the Future of the UN: A Call to Action for Aspiring Diplomats
Throughout all our endeavors at the UN—from humanitarian assistance to peacekeeping and Security Council work in defense of human rights—several unifying themes emerge: protecting lives, advancing human dignity, and maintaining international peace and security. These are the foundational principles of the UN and core U.S. values. Upholding these values necessitates strong U.S. leadership and active engagement within the UN.
As the largest financial contributor to the UN—providing 22 percent of the regular budget and 25 percent of the peacekeeping budget—we have a responsibility to ensure that U.S. taxpayer contributions are used responsibly. We are committed to urging the UN to reduce waste, enhance efficiency, and avoid mission creep wherever possible.
Throughout my career, I have witnessed numerous ways the UN contributes to international peace and security. In almost every foreign service posting, I have collaborated with UN representatives and agencies on UN-related issues in the field. From my initial assignment in Thailand as a refugee protection officer working with UNHCR in refugee camps along the Lao and Cambodian borders, to coordinating aid programs in the West Bank with UNRWA, and working with UN Peacekeeping Forces in Cyprus. Most recently, during my assignment in Iraq, I collaborated with the UN to develop a stabilization program that facilitated the safe return of over two million internally displaced Iraqis to their homes at minimal cost after their towns were liberated from ISIS.
I have seen the UN rise to challenges and exceed expectations, delivering peace, security, and relief, often driven by strong U.S. leadership and involvement. I know the immense potential of this institution when it operates at its best. However, the UN can become an even more effective and efficient instrument in achieving its goals. This is why we strongly support the UN Secretary-General’s reform agenda.
During his address to the UN General Assembly in September, President Trump emphasized the UN’s unlimited potential and affirmed the U.S.’s commitment to enhancing its effectiveness. Ultimately, a more efficient, accountable, results-oriented, and transparent UN will better fulfill the promise and vision of its Charter: to save future generations from the scourge of war, to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights and the dignity and worth of the human person, to promote better standards of life in greater freedom, to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and to advance the economic and social progress of all peoples. Such a UN will also more effectively serve not only U.S. interests but also those of all Member States.
From peacekeeping to providing for refugees and those in dire humanitarian need, to serving as a platform to highlight human rights abuses and threats to international peace and security—including conflict resolution and peacekeeping—the UN undertakes crucial and demanding work that aligns with U.S. interests and those of the global community. The UN plays an indispensable role, and we are dedicated to making it an even better institution in fulfilling this role. I sincerely hope that in the future, some of you will join me on the real UN stage, whether as U.S. diplomats, diplomats from your home countries, or as UN officials. Take the knowledge and skills you are developing and practicing here to help us maintain and promote international peace and security. What could be more important?
Thank you for your attention.
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Closing Remarks For Career Guidance Programs:
This address exemplifies the impactful closing remarks for a career guidance program focused on international affairs and diplomacy. It successfully blends personal narrative with professional insights, offering both inspiration and practical understanding of a career in international service. The speaker’s journey from Model UN to a high-ranking UN position serves as a powerful testament to the potential within each student. By detailing the multifaceted work of the UN and the U.S. Mission, the speech provides concrete examples of the diverse roles and challenges in this field, effectively guiding students to envision their own potential contributions to global peace and security. The concluding call to action directly encourages students to pursue careers in diplomacy and international organizations, making it a truly motivating and effective closing statement for any career guidance program.
