Helen Reed-Rowe was among the many diplomats and dignitaries who joined President Johnson Toribiong and other government officials during the opening ceremony of Palau’s Independence Day celebrations.
She presented her credentials to President Toribiong on Thursday night at the Palau International Airport.
“It’s a great day to be here,” Reed-Rowe said in an interview on Friday. She said she was excited to see so many different nationalities living in Palau. She was referring to 25 different countries that joined the Parade of Nations.
“I have not seen much of the country because I came in so late,” Reed-Rowe added. “I’m looking forward to meeting the people.”
Reed-Rowe said she was still pretty much jet-lagged. “But it’s a pleasure to be here, and I’m excited to start work.”
Palau is Reed-Rowe’s first ambassadorial appointment. She also serves as a Senior Advisor to the Office of Performance Evaluation in the Department of State.
Reed-Rowe held several positions overseas, such as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands; Supervisory General Services Officer in Jamaica; Regional Personnel Officer in Ecuador; and Personnel Officer in Niger.
“With more than 20 U.S. government agencies conducting programs in Palau, I believe it is important to improve coordination among them to ensure our efforts are effective and implemented with transparency and accountability,” Reed-Rowe said in her Ambassadorial Nomination Statement in July.
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