Young and Braun Vote to Confirm Hoosier Stephen Akard for Director of the Office of Foreign Missions

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Mike Braun (R-Ind.) today voted to confirm Stephen Akard from Indianapolis, Indiana to be Director of the Office of Foreign Missions, with the rank of Ambassador. Mr. Akard was confirmed by the full Senate vote of 90-2.

“Today the Senate voted to confirm a Hoosier and Indianapolis native, Stephen Akard, as Ambassador and Director of the Office of Foreign Missions to oversee the operations of U.S. missions abroad and the treatment of foreign missions in the U.S.,” said Senator Young. “I’m proud of Mr. Akard’s hard work and look forward to his help in keeping our relationships abroad strong.”

“The Office of Foreign Missions is tasked with maintaining critical relationships with foreign diplomats representing their nations in the United States, as well as ensuring that American missions abroad are conducted with the efficiency and reverence expected from the United States. Hoosier Stephen Akard is well suited and qualified to direct this office that’s vital to our security and interests at home and abroad,” said Senator Braun.

In 1986, Stephen Akard earned a B.A. in economics and French at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. In 1989, Mr. Akard earned a J.D. and an MBA from Indiana University. After graduating from law school, he clerked for U.S. District Court Judge James E. Noland. He joined the Foreign Service in 1997, serving in the consulate in Mumbai, India; as a political officer in the U.S. embassy in Brussles, Belgium, and in the Executive Secretariat of the State Department. Mr. Akard was also a lawyer at a private practice in Indianapolis, and taught writing at Indiana University’s law school.