The United States Embassy in Nairobi has confirmed that Susan M. Burns has officially assumed her role as Chargé d’Affaires, taking over from Carla Benini, who had served in the position since 2023.
Burns, a seasoned career diplomat and member of the Senior Foreign Service, brings to Nairobi a wealth of experience spanning more than two decades in public diplomacy, crisis response, and international partnership building.
A Distinguished Diplomatic Career
Before her posting to Kenya, Burns was the U.S. Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, from August 2022 to mid-2025. During her tenure, she played a pivotal role in strengthening bilateral ties, particularly as the U.S. and Vietnam elevated their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2023.
Her work emphasized economic collaboration, renewable energy, and semiconductor development. In 2023, she visited the 210 MWp An Hao Solar Farm to highlight U.S. interest in Vietnam’s renewable sector, while also fostering educational exchanges and cultural diplomacy initiatives. She became known for her outreach efforts that blended high-level economic engagement with people-to-people connections, ranging from supporting U.S. businesses in Vietnam to promoting student exchange programs.
Burns’s previous diplomatic postings reflect her versatility and global outlook. She has served in Kampala, Uganda, where she coordinated the U.S. response to the South Sudan crisis; Kathmandu, Nepal, where she directed communications after the devastating 2015 earthquake; Krakow, Poland; Ghana; and Taiwan. At the State Department in Washington, she also served in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs.
Her leadership has earned her recognition, including the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Public Diplomacy in 2017 and promotion into the Senior Foreign Service in 2018.
Academic and Linguistic Strengths
Burns holds a master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College and a bachelor’s degree from McGill University. Reflecting her global career, she is proficient in multiple languages, including Mandarin, Polish, Nepali, Vietnamese, and French.
Taking Over in Nairobi
Her appointment to Nairobi comes at a critical time for U.S.-Kenya relations, with Washington and Nairobi expanding cooperation in regional peace and security, counterterrorism, climate resilience, trade, and technology.
As Chargé d’Affaires, Burns will oversee the Embassy’s day-to-day operations and serve as the top U.S. diplomat in Kenya until a new ambassador is appointed. Her track record in advancing U.S. partnerships in challenging and diverse contexts is expected to strengthen the already deepening ties between Nairobi and Washington.
