{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}} {{Short description|American diplomat (born 1963)}} {{Infobox officeholder | image = Michael A. Hammer official photo.jpg | office = United States Special Envoy<br/>for the Horn of Africa | president = [[Joe Biden]] | term_start = June 1, 2022 | term_end = November 15, 2024 | predecessor = [[David M. Satterfield|David Satterfield]] | successor = TBD | office1 = [[United States Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo]] | president1 = [[Donald Trump]]<br />[[Joe Biden]] | term_start1 = December 22, 2018<ref>{{cite web |title=Ambassador Mike Hammer presents his credentials and assumes full duties as U.S. Ambassador to the DRC |date=December 22, 2018 |url=https://cd.usembassy.gov/ambassador-mike-hammer-presents-his-credentials-and-assumes-full-duties-as-u-s-ambassador-to-the-drc/ |publisher=U.S. Embassy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo |access-date=December 24, 2018 |archive-date=December 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225030705/https://cd.usembassy.gov/ambassador-mike-hammer-presents-his-credentials-and-assumes-full-duties-as-u-s-ambassador-to-the-drc/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | term_end1 = June 1, 2022 | predecessor1 = [[James C. Swan|James Swan]] | successor1 = [[Lucy Tamlyn]] | office2 = [[United States Ambassador to Chile]] | president2 = [[Barack Obama]] | deputy2 = Dale Eppler<ref>{{cite web |title=Deputy Chief of Mission |url=http://chile.usembassy.gov/dcm_dale_eppler.html |publisher=U.S. Department of State |access-date=November 27, 2015 |archive-date=May 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150523155122/http://chile.usembassy.gov/dcm_dale_eppler.html |url-status=live }}</ref> | term_start2 = April 8, 2014 | term_end2 = September 20, 2016<ref>https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/hammer-michael-a</ref> | predecessor2 = [[Alejandro Daniel Wolff|Alejandro Wolff]] | successor2 = [[Carol Z. Perez|Carol Perez]] | office3 = 27th [[Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs]] | president3 = [[Barack Obama]] | term_start3 = March 14, 2011 | term_end3 = September 3, 2013<br />{{small|Acting: March 14, 2011 – March 30, 2012}} | predecessor3 = [[Philip J. Crowley|Philip Crowley]] | successor3 = [[Douglas Frantz]] | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1963|12|26}} | birth_place = [[Washington, D.C.]], U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | alma_mater = [[Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service|Georgetown University]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])<br />[[Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy|Tufts University]] ([[Master of Arts|MA]])<br />[[National War College|National Defense University]] ([[Master of Arts|MA]]) }} '''Michael A. Hammer''' (born December 26, 1963) is an American diplomat who has served as a ''[[chargé d'affaires]]'' to [[Cuba]] since 2024 on an ad interim basis.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://cu.usembassy.gov/chief-of-mission/ | title=Chargé d'Affaires Mike Hammer }}</ref> He was previously as the United States special envoy for the [[Horn of Africa]] 2022 to 2024. A career member of the [[United States Foreign Service]], Hammer previously served as the [[List of ambassadors of the United States to Chile|United States ambassador to Chile]] from 2014 to 2016 and the [[List of ambassadors of the United States to the Democratic Republic of the Congo|United States ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo]] from 2018 to 2022.
== Education == Born in [[Washington, D.C.|Washington D.C.]], Hammer grew up in [[Latin America]], living in [[Honduras]], [[El Salvador]], [[Colombia]], [[Venezuela]], and [[Brazil]].<ref name="bare_url">{{cite web|title=Hammer, Michael A.|url=https://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/159475.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110404235654/http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/159475.htm|archive-date=April 4, 2011|work=U.S. Department of State}}</ref> He received a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University's [[Walsh School of Foreign Service|Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service]], and master's degrees from [[The Fletcher School at Tufts University|The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy]] at [[Tufts University]] and the [[National War College]] at the [[National Defense University (United States)|National Defense University]].
==Career== Hammer is a career member of the United States Senior Foreign Service, joining in 1988, and he has served abroad in [[Bolivia]], [[Norway]], [[Iceland]], and [[Denmark]]. In Washington, he has served in the State Department's Operations Center and as special assistant to [[Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs|under secretary of state for political affairs]] [[Marc Grossman]], where Hammer was responsible for Latin American affairs.<ref name="bare">{{cite web |date=July 8, 2011 |title=President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2011/07/08/president-obama-announces-more-key-administration-posts |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216164758/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2011/07/08/president-obama-announces-more-key-administration-posts |archive-date=February 16, 2017 |access-date=January 29, 2013 |work=[[whitehouse.gov]] |via=[[NARA|National Archives]]}}</ref> From 2012 to 2013, Hammer served as [[Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs|assistant secretary of state for public affairs]]. He served as acting assistant secretary from 2011 to 2012.<ref name="bare" />
Hammer served as special assistant to the president, senior director for press and communications, and spokesman at the [[United States National Security Council|National Security Council]] at the [[White House]] from 2009 to 2011. He also previously served at the [[National Security Council (U.S.)|National Security Council]] as deputy spokesman (from 1999 to 2000) and Director for Andean Affairs (from 2000 to 2001).<ref name="bare" />
On June 21, 2013, President Barack Obama nominated Hammer to be the [[List of ambassadors of the United States to Chile|United States ambassador to the Republic of Chile]]. He was confirmed by the [[United States Senate]] on March 6, 2014, and sworn in the day after on March 7.<ref>{{cite web |title=Michael A. Hammer |url=https://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/159475.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110404235654/http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/159475.htm |archive-date=April 4, 2011 |access-date=March 22, 2014 |work=U.S. Ambassador to Chile |publisher=U.S. Department of State}}</ref>
He was nominated to be the next [[List of ambassadors of the United States to the Democratic Republic of the Congo|ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo]] by President [[Donald Trump]] on June 20, 2018, and confirmed by the Senate on September 6, 2018.<ref>{{cite web |date=September 6, 2018 |title=PN2172 — Michael A. Hammer — Department of State |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/115th-congress/2172 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907221239/https://www.congress.gov/nomination/115th-congress/2172 |archive-date=September 7, 2018 |access-date=September 7, 2018 |publisher=U.S. Congress}}</ref> On June 1, 2020, Hammer said he was "deeply disturbed" by the [[murder of George Floyd]], and further stated that "Law enforcement must be held accountable worldwide. No one is above the law".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Finnegan |first=Conor |date=June 2, 2020 |title=US diplomats struggle to navigate racial protests, Trump's messages, charges of hypocrisy |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-diplomats-struggle-navigate-racial-protests-trumps-messages/story?id=71022439 |website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]}}</ref>
On June 1, 2022, U.S Secretary of State [[Antony Blinken]] announced Mike Hammer as the new special envoy for the [[Horn of Africa]] under the [[Joe Biden|Biden]] [[Presidency of Joe Biden|Administration]], replacing [[David M. Satterfield|David Satterfield]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kana |first=Tayo |date=2022-06-01 |title=Blinken Announces Mike Hammer as New Special Envoy for Horn of Africa |url=https://techscoopsng.com/mike-hammer-new-special-envoy-horn-of-africa/ |access-date=2022-12-23 |website=Techscoops Nigeria - Fintech Africa News |language=en-US}}{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> In late July the same year, Hammer visited [[Egypt]] and [[Ethiopia]] to build [[Egypt–Ethiopia relations|relations]] and discuss the [[Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Egypt |first=U. S. Mission |date=24 July 2022 |title=Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Mike Hammer's Travel to Egypt, the UAE, and Ethiopia |url=https://eg.usembassy.gov/special-envoy-for-the-horn-of-africa-mike-hammers-travel-to-egypt-the-uae-and-ethiopia/ |access-date=4 August 2022 |website=U.S. Embassy in Egypt |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Egypt |first=U. S. Mission |date=27 July 2022 |title=The United States is Committed to Egypt's Water Security and Advancing a Resolution on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam |url=https://eg.usembassy.gov/the-united-states-is-committed-to-egypts-water-security-advancing-a-resolution-on-the-grand-ethiopian-renaissance-dam/ |access-date=4 August 2022 |website=U.S. Embassy in Egypt |language=en-US}}</ref> Throughout 2022, he also worked with Ethiopian and [[Tigray Region|Tigrayan]] officials to [[Tigrayan peace process|negotiate an end]] to the [[Tigray War]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 25, 2022 |title=News: US Horn envoy due in Ethiopia, talks between federal, Tigray authorities, GERD main agenda |work=[[Addis Standard]] |url=https://addisstandard.com/news-us-horn-envoy-due-in-ethiopia-talks-between-federal-tigray-authorities-gerd-main-agenda/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=26 October 2022 |title=Ethiopia peace talks enter day two in South Africa |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20221026-ethiopia-peace-talks-enter-day-two-in-south-africa |website=France 24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 25, 2022 |title=Peace talks aimed at ending Ethiopia's deadly Tigray conflict begin in South Africa |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/peace-talks-ethiopia-tigray-south-africa-1.6628808 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027012910/https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/peace-talks-ethiopia-tigray-south-africa-1.6628808 |archive-date=October 27, 2022 |website=[[CBC News]] |agency=AP}}</ref> On November 2 (with Hammer acting as one of the mediators), a [[Ethiopia–Tigray peace agreement|peace treaty]] was signed between the [[government of Ethiopia]] and the [[Tigray People's Liberation Front]] (TPLF), formally ending the war on November 3.<ref name=":31">{{Cite news |last1=Winning |first1=Alexander |last2=Cocks |first2=Tim |date=2 November 2022 |title=Parties in Ethiopia conflict agree to cease hostilities |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/african-union-parties-ethiopia-conflict-have-agreed-cease-hostilities-2022-11-02/ |access-date=}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2 November 2022 |title=Ethiopia's gov't and Tigrayan forces agree to end two-year war |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/11/2/ethiopias-warring-sides-agree-cessation-of-hostilities-au |website=Al Jazeera}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2 November 2022 |title=AU announces peace deal in Ethiopia's Tigray conflict |url=https://www.dw.com/en/au-announces-peace-deal-in-ethiopias-tigray-conflict/a-63628721 |website=Deutsche Welle}}</ref>
In August 28, 2023, Hammer announced he would meet with [[Kenya|Kenyan]], Ethiopian, African Union and [[Intergovernmental Authority on Development]] (IGAD) officials to discuss ways to resolve a [[War in Sudan (2023)|conflict in Sudan]], which began earlier that year.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 28, 2023 |title=US Special Envoy in Kenya to discuss Sudan conflict |work=[[Sudan Tribune]] |url=https://sudantribune.com/article276599/}}</ref>
==Personal life== Hammer is married with three children. He speaks [[Spanish language|Spanish]], [[French language|French]], [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]], and [[Icelandic language|Icelandic]].<ref name="bare" />
==See also== *[[Ambassadors of the United States#Current U.S. Ambassadors|List of current ambassadors of the United States]] *[[List of ambassadors appointed by Donald Trump (2017–2021)|List of ambassadors appointed by Donald Trump]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} *{{C-SPAN|59275}}
{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=[[Philip J. Crowley|Philip Crowley]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs]]|years=2011–2013<br />{{small|Acting: 2011–2012}}}} {{s-aft|after=[[Douglas Frantz]]}} |- {{s-dip}} {{s-bef|before=[[Alejandro Daniel Wolff|Alejandro Wolff]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[United States Ambassador to Chile]]|years=2014–2016}} {{s-aft|after=[[Carol Z. Perez|Carol Perez]]}} |- {{s-bef|before=[[James C. Swan]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[List of ambassadors of the United States to the Democratic Republic of the Congo|United States to the Democratic Republic of the Congo]]|years=2018–2022}} {{s-aft|after=[[Lucy Tamlyn]]}} {{s-end}}
{{Ambassadors of the United States to Chile}} {{USLAambassadors}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hammer, Michael A.}} [[Category:1963 births]] [[Category:Ambassadors of the United States to Chile]] [[Category:Walsh School of Foreign Service alumni]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:National War College alumni]] [[Category:The Fletcher School at Tufts University alumni]] [[Category:United States assistant secretaries of state]] [[Category:United States National Security Council staffers]] [[Category:Ambassadors of the United States to the Democratic Republic of the Congo]] [[Category:United States Foreign Service personnel]] [[Category:21st-century American diplomats]] [[Category:People of the Tigray war]]