September 4, 2020
Press Section
U.S. Embassy Ashgabat
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Release
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan — U.S. Ambassador to Turkmenistan, Matthew S. Klimow, was selected to temporarily fill a high level position within the U.S. Department of State. He will serve as the acting Inspector General of the Department. In order to fulfill the duties of this position, he has departed Ashgabat to return to the United States. He plans to return to Ashgabat upon completion of his temporary assignment, near the end of this year.
Ambassador Klimow was selected for this important position because of his extensive management and leadership experience. Ambassador Klimow is a career civil servant who, in addition to serving as U.S. Ambassador to Turkmenistan, has served in senior roles at the White House, the Department of State, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and as an officer in the United States Army.
While the Ambassador is temporarily away from Ashgabat, his deputy, Valerie Chittenden, will serve as the Charge d’Affaires of the U.S. Mission to Turkmenistan. Ms. Chittenden is an 18-year veteran of the U.S. diplomatic corps, with extensive experience in the region.
For all media inquiries, please contact the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Turkmenistan at USEmbassy-Ashgabat-PAS@state.gov.
