Director General of the Foreign Service and
Director of Global Talent (2022 – 25)
United States Ambassador to Bangladesh (2015-18)
United States Ambassador to Senegal & Guinea-Bissau (2008-11)
Ambassador (ret.) Barbara Bodine
Director, Institute for the Study of Diplomacy
Moderator
Thursday, October 16th
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Virtual on Zoom
The America’s Diplomats Speakers Series is designed to empower students to see themselves as the diplomats of tomorrow, and to reenergize those already in public service by highlighting the many ways their work matters. At a time when the need for a strong public service is more necessary than ever, America’s Diplomats offers an honest and compelling window into the lives of those who have shaped U.S. foreign policy across regions, decades, and administrations.
Join us for a conversation with Ambassador (ret.) Marcia Bernicat — former Director General of the Foreign Service and Director of Global Talent (2022 – 2025), and the former United States Ambassador to Bangladesh (2015-2018) and to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau (2008-2011). She will share her insights on a lifelong career in diplomacy, lessons learned from serving across multiple regions, and the skills and values that define a successful Foreign Service officer.
Learn more about America’s Diplomats and access our video library at Americas-Diplomats.com.
Ambassador (ret.) Marcia Bernicat is a retired career Foreign Service Officer who most recently served as the Director General of the Foreign Service and Director of Global Talent (2022-2025). A native of New Jersey, Ambassador (ret.) Bernicat received a Bachelor of Arts in History from Lafayette College and a Master of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University. Prior to joining the Foreign Service, Ambassador (ret.) Bernicat worked for the Procter and Gamble Manufacturing Company.
Ambassador (ret.) Bernicat previously served as the acting Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment from January-August 2021 and concurrently as acting Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES). She was a Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment from 2020-2021 and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in OES from 2019-2020. She served as Ambassador to Bangladesh from 2015-2018 and to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau from 2008-2011.
Ambassador (ret.) Bernicat also served domestically as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Human Resources; Office Director for India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Bhutan; Senior-Level Director and Career Development Officer in the Bureau of Human Resources; Nepal Desk Officer and Political-Military Officer for India, Special Assistant to Deputy Secretary of State John Whitehead and Watch Officer in the Department’s Operations Center.
She was Deputy Chief of Mission in Bridgetown, Barbados (2001-2004) and Lilongwe, Malawi (1998-2001) and Principal Officer in Casablanca, Morocco (1995-1998). Her other overseas assignments include New Delhi, India; Marseille, France and Bamako, Mali. Ambassador (ret.) Bernicat is the recipient of the Secretary of State’s Distinguished Service Award and numerous other Department awards.