Trump Nominates Former CIA Official Nicholas Checker as U.S. Ambassador to Rwanda
President Donald Trump has nominated Nicholas George “Nick” Checker, a former Central Intelligence Agency official and national security strategist, to serve as the next United States Ambassador to the Republic of Rwanda.
The nomination was formally transmitted to the U.S. Senate on July 21, 2026, and has been referred to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for consideration
Who is Nicholas Checker?
– Career national security and foreign affairs official
– Served more than a decade at the CIA (2014–2025), focusing on conflicts in the Greater Middle East and Horn of Africa, as well as congressional affairs
– Received the Intelligence Commendation Medal (2021) and the Director’s Award for Analysis (2022) for his work on Afghanistan
– Previously served as Deputy Executive Secretary for the National Security Council
– Most recently held senior roles at the State Department, including Senior Bureau Official leading the Bureau of African Affairs and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Southern Africa and Foreign Assistance
– Currently serves as Senior Advisor in the Office of the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Assistance, Humanitarian Affairs, and Religious Freedom
– Holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin and a master’s in Security Studies from Georgetown University
If confirmed by the Senate, Checker will succeed career diplomat Eric Kneedler, who served as U.S. Ambassador to Rwanda from October 2023 until January 2026.
The nomination is now pending Senate confirmation.