{{Short description|American diplomat and political advisor (born 1969)}} {{Use American English|date = October 2020}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2020}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Joseph Cella | image = Joseph J. Cella official photo.jpg | caption = Official portrait, 2019 | office1 = United States Ambassador to Fiji | president1 = Donald Trump | term_start1 = December 23, 2019 | term_end1 = January 20, 2021 | predecessor1 = Judith Beth Cefkin | successor1 = Marie C. Damour | office2 = United States Ambassador to Kiribati | president2 = Donald Trump | term_start2 = December 23, 2019 | term_end2 = January 20, 2021 | predecessor2 = Judith Beth Cefkin | successor2 = Marie C. Damour | office3 = United States Ambassador to Nauru | president3 = Donald Trump | term_start3 = December 23, 2019 | term_end3 = January 20, 2021 | predecessor3 = Judith Beth Cefkin | successor3 = Marie C. Damour | office4 = United States Ambassador to Tonga | president4 = Donald Trump | term_start4 = December 23, 2019 | term_end4 = January 20, 2021 | predecessor4 = Judith Beth Cefkin | successor4 = Marie C. Damour | office5 = United States Ambassador to Tuvalu | president5 = Donald Trump | term_start5 = December 23, 2019 | term_end5 = January 20, 2021 | predecessor5 = Judith Beth Cefkin | successor5 = Marie C. Damour | birth_name = Joseph James Cella | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|11|14}} | birth_place = Richmond, Michigan, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | party = | spouse = Kristen Renee | children = 7 | education = Hillsdale College (BA) | signature = | website = }} '''Joseph James Cella''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|ɛ|l|ə}} {{respell|SELL|əh}}; born November 14, 1969) is an American diplomat and political advisor, who served concurrently as the United States Ambassador to Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu from 2019 to 2021. A prominent Roman Catholic, Cella co-founded the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast.
== Early life and education == Cella was born on November 14, 1969, to Robert Cella and Janice Jean Rose.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bewig|first1=Matt|title=U. S. Ambassador to Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu: Who Is Joseph Cella?|url=http://www.allgov.com/news/top-stories/u-s-ambassador-to-fiji-kiribati-nauru-tonga-and-tuvalu-who-is-joseph-cella-180220?news=860421|access-date=29 August 2020|publisher=AllGov|date=February 20, 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200627035814/http://www.allgov.com/news/top-stories/u-s-ambassador-to-fiji-kiribati-nauru-tonga-and-tuvalu-who-is-joseph-cella-180220?news=860421|archive-date=2020-06-27}}</ref> He was raised in Richmond, Michigan, and graduated from Hillsdale College in 1991.<ref name="Cella's choice: Macomb County native selects Fiji to serve as U.S. Ambassador">{{cite news |last1=Cook|first1=Jameson|title=Cella's choice: Macomb County native selects Fiji to serve as U.S. Ambassador|url=https://www.macombdaily.com/news/local/cellas-choice-macomb-county-native-selects-fiji-to-serve-as-u-s-ambassador/article_7f6912ec-eec9-11ea-bb1c-bb4a88183e06.html|access-date=2 October 2020|publisher=Macomb Daily|date=September 6, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Nann">{{cite news |last1=Burke|first1=Melissa Nann|title=Senate approves Michigan's Cella to be Fiji ambassador|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2019/09/25/senate-confirmation-joe-cella-ambassador-fiji/2385104001/|access-date=5 December 2019|publisher=The Detroit News|date=September 25, 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200824041129/https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2019/09/25/senate-confirmation-joe-cella-ambassador-fiji/2385104001/| archive-date=2020-08-24 }}</ref><ref name="Hillsdale">{{cite web |title=Hillsdale College Alumnus Nominated As U.S. Ambassador to Fiji |url=https://www.hillsdale.edu/news-and-media/press-releases/hillsdale-college-alumnus-nominated-u-s-ambassador-fiji/ |website=Hillsdale College |access-date=5 December 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205163931/https://www.hillsdale.edu/news-and-media/press-releases/hillsdale-college-alumnus-nominated-u-s-ambassador-fiji/| archive-date = 2019-12-05 }}</ref> At Hillsdale, he was a part of the Sigma Chi fraternity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hillsdalecollegian.com/2020/12/from-sigma-chi-to-suva-fiji-ambassador-joseph-cella/|title=From Sigma Chi to Suva, Fiji: Ambassador Joseph Cella|date=December 20, 2020}}</ref>
== Political career == Cella made his start in politics by managing two successful campaigns, and one failed campaign for three Republican Michigan state senators. He went on to work for Spencer Abraham as a political regional director in Michigan for five years.<ref name="Cella's choice: Macomb County native selects Fiji to serve as U.S. Ambassador" /> Cella next worked as a staff member in the Capitol Hill office of Thaddeus McCotter for two years, before becoming a senior adviser to the House Republican Steering Committee and the Republican Policy Committee.<ref name="Nann" />
During the 2016 United States presidential election, Cella was initially a conservative critic of Donald Trump's candidacy. Cella was one of several Catholic leaders to sign onto an open letter in March 2016, which “called Trump ‘manifestly unfit to be president of the United States,’ citing his “vulgarity,’ his appeals to racial and ethnic fears, and questioning his commitment to ending abortion.” He later said saying he had “a sincere change of heart and mind” when Trump said he would appoint anti-abortion judges in the mold of Antonin Scalia.<ref name="Nann" />
After Trump became the Republican nominee, Cella served as lead Catholic advisory counsel for the Trump campaign. After Trump's election, Cella served as part of Trump's transition team.<ref name="U.S. Department of State - Bio Archive" />
== Ambassador to Fiji (2019–2021) == === Appointment === Cella was offered a White House position after the presidential transition was over, but he declined. Subsequently, Trump offered him an ambassadorship to either Malta, Uruguay, Slovenia, or Fiji. He chose Fiji.<ref name="Cella's choice: Macomb County native selects Fiji to serve as U.S. Ambassador" />
After being nominated by Trump in February 2019, in September the U.S. Senate voted 56–38 to approve Cella as Ambassador to Fiji, and concurrently as Ambassador to Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu.<ref>{{cite web | title= U.S. Congressional Records| date= September 24, 2019| access-date= 2 October 2020|url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/116th-congress/114}}</ref> He was sworn in on November 25, 2019.<ref name="U.S. Department of State - Bio Archive" />
=== Tenure === thumb|right|Joseph Cella's first press conference as Ambassador to Fiji|229x229px
Cella was presented his credentials to be the 16th United States Ambassador to Fiji and its surrounding islands of Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu on December 23, 2019, by Fijian President Jioji Konrote.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ravuwai|first1=Ilaijia|title=New US Ambassador To Fiji, Cella Presents His Credentials|url=https://fijisun.com.fj/2019/12/24/new-us-ambassador-to-fiji-cella-presents-his-credentials/|publisher=The Fiji Sun|date=December 24, 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820185737/https://fijisun.com.fj/2019/12/24/new-us-ambassador-to-fiji-cella-presents-his-credentials/| archive-date = 2020-08-20 }}</ref><ref name="U.S. Department of State - Bio Archive">{{cite web | url = https://fj.usembassy.gov/our-relationship/our-ambassador/ | title = U.S. Department of State - Bio Archive | access-date = 2020-08-28 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200409075330/https://fj.usembassy.gov/our-relationship/our-ambassador/ | archive-date = 2020-04-09 }}</ref>
He said his main priorities within his first 30 days was to be a "very active, aggressive bridge builder, and public engager".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chaudhary|first1=Felix|title=US Ambassador Cella loves Fiji|url=https://www.fijitimes.com/us-ambassador-cella-loves-fiji/|publisher=The Fiji Sun|date=December 24, 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708091545/https://www.fijitimes.com/us-ambassador-cella-loves-fiji/| archive-date = 2020-07-08 }}</ref> On January 30 of next year, Cella met with Joseph Lengyel, then a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to "emphasize the importance of Fiji’s State Partnership Program with the Nevada National Guard".<ref>{{cite web | url = https://fj.usembassy.gov/general-lengyel-visits-suva-to-promote-state-partnership-program/| title = General Lengyel Visits Suva to Promote State Partnership Program| date = January 31, 2020| publisher = U.S. Department of State | access-date = 2020-10-07 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922211116/https://fj.usembassy.gov/general-lengyel-visits-suva-to-promote-state-partnership-program/| archive-date = 2020-09-22 }}</ref>
Cella departed Fiji on January 20, 2021, after his resignation, leaving Tony Greubel as the chargé d’affaires.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fj.usembassy.gov/our-relationship/our-ambassador/|title=Chargé d'Affaires Tony Greubel|access-date=June 17, 2020|archive-date=July 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725220344/https://fj.usembassy.gov/our-relationship/our-ambassador/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
=== COVID-19 pandemic ===
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cella received an additional $27.7 million and relief supplies for his ambassadorial countries from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).<ref>{{cite web | url = https://fj.usembassy.gov/u-s-donated-ventilators-to-boost-kiribatis-fight-against-covid-19/| title = U.S.- Donated Ventilators to Boost Kiribati's Fight Against COVID-19| date = September 30, 2020| publisher = U.S. Department of State | access-date = 2020-10-07 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20201003093102/https://fj.usembassy.gov/u-s-donated-ventilators-to-boost-kiribatis-fight-against-covid-19/| archive-date = 2020-10-03 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Singh|first1=Shanil|title=Fiji receives $175,000 worth of relief supplies from the US|url=https://www.fijivillage.com/news/Fiji-receives-175000-worth-of-relief-supplies-from-the-US-4f5r8x/|access-date=29 August 2020|publisher=FijiVillage|date=May 14, 2020| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20200607143312/https://www.fijivillage.com/news/Fiji-receives-175000-worth-of-relief-supplies-from-the-US-4f5r8x/| archive-date = 2020-06-07 }}</ref>
Cella got Fiji's leading alcohol beverages manufacturer, Paradise Beverages (Fiji) Limited, to donate relief supplies to the Fijian community.<ref name="Paradise Beverages Limited donates 1,400 litres of Hand sanitizers to Health Ministry">{{cite news |last1=Naivalurua|first1=Navitalai|title=Paradise Beverages Limited donates 1,400 litres of Hand sanitizers to Health Ministry|url=https://www.fijivillage.com/business/Paradise-Beverages-Limited-donates-1400-litres-of-Hand-sanitizers-to-Health-Ministry-r5x8f4/|access-date=29 August 2020|publisher=FijiVillage|date=May 14, 2020| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20200719084559/https://www.fijivillage.com/business/Paradise-Beverages-Limited-donates-1400-litres-of-Hand-sanitizers-to-Health-Ministry-r5x8f4/| archive-date = 2020-07-19 }}</ref> General Manager of Paradise Beverages, Mike Spencer, said that "they were fortunate that the U.S. Embassy has come on board and contribute to this because if they did this themselves, they could not do it for long."<ref name="Paradise Beverages Limited donates 1,400 litres of Hand sanitizers to Health Ministry" />
Cella had been involved in on the ground charity work, helping the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission, during the pandemic. Cella's embassy had made donations to food banks that helped people, and families impacted by COVID-19.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://fijisun.com.fj/2020/04/19/fijian-competition-and-consumer-commission-thanks-us-embassy-for-donation-to-veilomani-food-bank/| title = Fijian Competition And Consumer Commission Thanks US Embassy For Donation To Veilomani Food Bank | access-date = 2020-08-28 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200428201328/https://fijisun.com.fj/2020/04/19/fijian-competition-and-consumer-commission-thanks-us-embassy-for-donation-to-veilomani-food-bank/| archive-date = 2020-04-28 }}</ref>
In May 2020, Cella's Embassy requested grant proposals to try to "support economic resilience" in Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu at the "grassroots level" during the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{cite web | url =https://fj.usembassy.gov/beneficiaries-announced-for-the-u-s-embassy-economic-resilience-grants/| title = U.S. Embassy Offers Grant Opportunity to Promote Grassroots Economic Recovery | publisher = U.S. Department of State | access-date = 2020-08-28 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20200718232037/https://fj.usembassy.gov/u-s-embassy-offers-grant-opportunity-to-promote-grassroots-economic-recovery/?_ga=2.169080804.419188581.1594976819-1419190373.1594976819| archive-date = 2020-07-18 }}</ref> The grants were accepted on August 27, 2020.<ref>{{cite web | url =https://fj.usembassy.gov/beneficiaries-announced-for-the-u-s-embassy-economic-resilience-grants/| title = Beneficiaries Announced for the U.S. Embassy Economic Resilience Grants | date = August 17, 2020 | publisher = U.S. Department of State | access-date = 2020-10-07 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20200922155814/https://fj.usembassy.gov/beneficiaries-announced-for-the-u-s-embassy-economic-resilience-grants/| archive-date = 2020-09-22 }}</ref>
In July 2020, Cella joined Government of Fiji officials to launch “Health Care on Air". A radio program that attempted to "boost the capacity of health workers to protect themselves, [against COVID-19] and deliver quality health services to communities."<ref name="U.S. Government Supports Health Care on Air for Pacific Islands COVID-19 Response">{{cite web | url = https://fj.usembassy.gov/u-s-government-supports-health-care-on-air-for-pacific-islands-covid-19-response/| title = U.S. Government Supports Health Care on Air for Pacific Islands COVID-19 Response | date = July 6, 2020 | publisher = U.S. Department of State | access-date = 2020-08-28 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20200820161407/https://fj.usembassy.gov/u-s-government-supports-health-care-on-air-for-pacific-islands-covid-19-response/| archive-date = 2020-08-20 }}</ref>
== Personal life == Cella lives in Augusta Charter Township, Michigan outside of Ann Arbor with his wife Kristen Renee, and their seven children.<ref name="Augusta resident Joseph Cella approved as ambassador to Fiji">{{cite news |last1=Otzman|first1=Rosemary K.|title=Augusta resident Joseph Cella approved as ambassador to Fiji|url=http://bellevilleareaindependent.com/augusta-twp-resident-joseph-cella-approved-as-ambassador-to-fiji/|access-date=28 August 2020|publisher=Belleville-Area Independent|date=October 3, 2019}}</ref>
=== Religious work === Cella is a Roman Catholic.<ref name="Nann" /><ref name="Augusta resident Joseph Cella approved as ambassador to Fiji" /><ref name="National Catholic Prayer Breakfast website">{{cite web | title= National Catholic Prayer Breakfast website| access-date= 25 August 2020|url=https://catholicprayerbreakfast.com/about/}}</ref> In 2004, he founded the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast along with Rick Santorum, and Leonard Leo, which they created in response to Pope John Paul II's call for a new evangelization.<ref name="National Catholic Prayer Breakfast website" /> It has featured many notable guest speakers like George W. Bush, John Roberts, Paul Ryan, Raymond Leo Burke, Samuel Alito, and Antonin Scalia.<ref name="U.S. Department of State - Bio Archive" />
[[File:President George W Bush pictured with Joseph Cella.jpg|thumb|President George W. Bush (center), Archbishop Charles J. Chaput (left), and Joseph Cella (right) pictured at a National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in 2005]]
Cella co-founded the Catholic advocacy organization Catholic Vote.<ref name="U.S. Department of State - Bio Archive" /><ref name="National Catholic Prayer Breakfast website" /><ref>{{cite web | title= CatholicVote website| access-date= 7 October 2020|url=https://catholicvote.org/}}</ref> It has grown to over 700,000 members, as of 2019.<ref name="U.S. Department of State - Bio Archive" /><ref name="National Catholic Prayer Breakfast website" />
== References == <references />
== External links == *{{url|https://web.archive.org/web/20200409075330/https://fj.usembassy.gov/our-relationship/our-ambassador/ |Department of State biography}} *Fiji – United States relations
{{s-start}} {{s-dip}} {{s-bef|rows=5|before=Judith Beth Cefkin}} {{s-ttl|title=United States Ambassador to Fiji|years=2019–2021}} {{s-aft|rows=5|after=Marie C. Damour}} {{s-ttl|title=United States Ambassador to Kiribati|years=2019–2021}} |- {{s-ttl|title=United States Ambassador to Nauru|years=2019–2021}} |- {{s-ttl|title=United States Ambassador to Tonga|years=2019–2021}} |- {{s-ttl|title=United States Ambassador to Tuvalu|years=2019–2021}} {{s-end}}
{{US Ambassadors to Fiji}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cella, Joseph}} Category:1969 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century American diplomats Category:21st-century Roman Catholics Category:Ambassadors of the United States to Fiji Category:Ambassadors of the United States to Kiribati Category:Ambassadors of the United States to Nauru Category:Ambassadors of the United States to Tonga Category:Ambassadors of the United States to Tuvalu Category:American Roman Catholics Category:Catholics from Michigan Category:Hillsdale College alumni Category:People from Hillsdale, Michigan Category:People from Washtenaw County, Michigan