Jonathan D. Farrar is the current Chief of Mission of the United States Interests Section in Havana

United States Interests Section in Havana

The U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is inaccessible from within Cuba. Consular issues regarding the naval base are handled by the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica.-Location:...

, Cuba (USINT). He has held this post since July 2008, and succeeded Michael E. Parmly

Michael E. Parmly

Michael E. Parmly is the former Chief of Mission of the United States Interests Section in Havana, or USINT, a post he held from September 10, 2005 to July 2008. He succeeded James Cason at this post and is predecessor to Jonathan D. Farrar.-Personal life:...

 as the highest-ranking U.S. diplomat in Havana.

Background Information

Mr. Farrar joined the State Department in 1980 as an economic officer, and is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service. He was born in Los Angeles, California, graduated from Covina High School

Covina High School

Covina High School, commonly known as Covina High or CHS to the students, is a public high school located in Covina, California, United States. Covina High School is one of three comprehensive high schools within the Covina-Valley Unified School District. Established in 1897, Covina High is...

, and studied at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, or Cal Poly Pomona, is a public university located in Pomona, California, United States...

, Claremont Graduate School, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces

Industrial College of the Armed Forces

The Industrial College of the Armed Forces is a U.S. military educational institution tasked with preparing military officers and civilian government officials for leadership and executive positions in the field of national security...

. Mr. Farrar is married and has three children.

Career

Mr. Farrar’s career includes extensive experience in Latin America. His most recent overseas posting was as the Deputy Chief of Mission in Montevideo, Uruguay

Uruguay

Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...

. Mr. Farrar also served at the U.S. embassies in Mexico

Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...

, Belize

Belize

Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...

, and Paraguay

Paraguay

Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...

.

Prior to assuming his position as USINT COM, Mr. Farrar served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor

Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor

The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Affairs at the United States Department of State is one of three bureaus and two offices that constitute the Office of the Under Secretary for Global Affairs...

 (DRL), and was DRL’s Acting Assistant Secretary from August 2007 to March 2008. In this capacity, Mr. Farrar oversaw DRL’s human rights and democracy programs around the world, with a particular focus on Asia and the Western Hemisphere. From 2004 to 2005, Mr. Farrar served as a Deputy Assistant Secretary in the State Department’s Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs

Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs

__FORCETOC__The Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs is a part of the Department of State within the United States government that advises the President, Secretary of State, other bureaux within the Department of State, and other departments and agencies within the U.S...

 (INL), with responsibility for INL’s programs in the Western Hemisphere, Africa, Asia, and Europe.

Mr. Farrar has held a variety of domestic assignments in the State Department’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs

Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs

In the United States Government, the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs is a part of the U.S. Department of State, charged with implementing U.S. foreign policy and promoting U.S. interests in the Western Hemisphere, as well as advising the Under Secretary for Political Affairs...

, including service as Deputy Director of the Office of Andean Affairs and as country desk officer for Argentina. Mr. Farrar served twice on the staff of the Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs

Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs

The Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs is a position within the American Department of State that, according to the Department website, "coordinates U.S...

, most recently as chief of staff to the Under Secretary from 2002 to 2004.