i mentioned david hale, my undersecretary for political affairs. we also have director kiron skinner who i have not mention before, she is a highly distinguished academic, knowledgeable across a broad range of issues. she's going to make sure the best foreign policy ideas rise to the top here at the state department. when i went before the senate foreign relations committee, i only made a couple of to promises, but one was that i would get the team on the field. i knew this was critical to strengthening the finest diplomatic corps in the world, and that's what i said that day. i told them i'd do my part, that i would fill those positions, i would work with the president to get the individuals nominated, and we have made great progress getting confirmable positions filled, and we need that progress to continue. the places where we still have gaps, places like western hemisphere where we have challenges in venezuela and nicaragua and in mexico and the northern triangle, important areas, we need a leader. we haven't had an undersecretary for managemen

of officers the position of career ambassador for the state department's finest philip goldberg david hale undersecretary for political affairs michele sis and dan smith. this is the highest and most prestigious rank at the foreign service they should all be very proud i know i'm proud of them the american people too should be proud of phil david michelle and dan representing our country they have all proven over many years of service that their outstanding diplomatic skills and leadership qualities are much needed and that they are delivering their inspiration to their great leaders i congratulate them all on behalf of all of my state department colleagues it's a good step toward strength of the state department leadership something i put at the top of my priorities that in my first now several months here i know that american diplomacy is most agile most effective we have our entire team in place we need to have that senior leadership team empowered to that end we do have some new leaders are already making an impact i mentioned david hale spender secretary for political affairs. we also

hale, dandberg, david smith. this is the highest rank in the foreign service. they should all be very proud. i am proud of them. should bean people proud of them representing our country. they have proven over many years of service their outstanding diplomatic skills and leadership properties are much-needed. they are an inspiration. i congratulate them all. it's a good step towards strengthening the state department leadership. something i put at the top of my priorities. diplomacyt american is most effective when we have our entire team in place. we need to have that senior leadership team and powered. we have some new leaders already making an impact. david hill. we have other people i have not mentioned at the podium before. a highly distinguished academic. she is going to make sure the best foreign policy ideas rise to the top. when i went before the senate foreign relations committee, i only made a a couple of promises. i promise to get the team on the field. part, them i would do my that i would fill those positions, i would work with the president to ge