Kate Marie Byrnes (born 1971[1]) is an American diplomat, who served as the United States ambassador to North Macedonia between July 2019 and September 2022. She is a career diplomat who has received many awards for her service.
Byrnes has a bachelor of science in international relations (foreign service) from Georgetown University, and a master's degree in policy management, also from Georgetown.[2]
From 2007 through 2010, she was a public affairs advisor to the United States Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. She has previously represented U.S. interests in Bolivia, Hungary, Spain, and Turkey.[6]
A career diplomat, she had served as the deputy ambassador in Athens, and was the designated representative of the U.S. mission to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Vienna.[11][6] Addressing the United States Senate during her confirmation hearings, she averred her continuing commitment "to strengthen cooperation with (North) Macedonia as a strategic partner." She highlighted that the Prespes agreement surmounted an historic hurdle, so its implementation is regionally important.[11] Upon her appointment, acting Assistant Secretary of StatePhilip Reeker saw her appointment as a harbinger of "a new era of bilateral cooperation, as friends and allies of the Republic of Macedonia."[6] She brought twenty-four years experience as a diplomat before being appointed to the post.[5]
^"Ms. Byrnes also served as Public Affairs Counselor at the U.S. Embassy Madrid Spain, 2011 – 2014 and, in a further demonstration of the breadth of her leadership, she served as the U.S. Department of State Senior Civilian Representative to Task Force Bastogne/Bronco, Jalalabad Airfield, Afghanistan, 2010 – 2011. Ms. Byrnes’ distinguished record of leadership, coupled with her considerable experience in European affairs and on the process of accession to NATO and the European Union, make her an excellent candidate to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Macedonia."[13]
