US President, Joe Biden has named a new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Liberia, replacing Michael McCarthy who has served in the capacity since January 22, 2021.
His name is Mark Christopher Toner, born in 1964, and is a U.S. Foreign Service Officer as well as a former Spokesperson for the United States Department of State.
His nomination is subject to confirmation by the US Senate.
Amb. McCarthy has been very vocal on corruption and has cautioned Liberians to be patriotic and united in the quest to develop their country.
His replacement comes five days after President Weah’s visit to the headquarters of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the United States in Virginia at the invitation of CIA Director William J. Burns. The details from that meeting remain classified.
The new Ambassador-designate is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, currently serves as the Minister Counselor for Public Diplomacy at the U.S. Embassy in Paris, France. Previously, Toner was a Senior Advisor at the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe and a Senior Faculty Advisor at the National Defense University.
Earlier, Toner held positions as the State Department’s Deputy Spokesperson, Acting Spokesperson, and as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the State Department’s Bureau of European Affairs. He has also served as the Director of Press Operations in the Bureau of Public Affairs and Director of Press and Public Affairs in the Bureau of European Affairs.
Toner was also a Spokesperson at the U.S. Mission to NATO in Brussels, Belgium. Prior to joining the State Department, he served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Liberia, West Africa.
Toner earned his Bachelor’s from the University of Notre Dame and his Master’s from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington, D.C. He speaks French and Polish.
