Ambassador Arnold Chacon retired from the U.S. Foreign Service with the rank of Career Minister. Over the course of his 40-year career at the State Department, he represented the United States abroad in nine countries, including as Chief of Mission in Guatemala, and served as Director General of the Foreign Service and Deputy Executive Secretary of the Executive Secretariat. Ambassador Chacon is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations and is a frequent public speaker on foreign policy and talent management issues.

Immediately prior to his retirement in January 2022, Ambassador Chacon served as Special Charge D’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa, Canada, where he led the implementation of the U.S.-Canada Roadmap for Renewed Partnership, strengthening bilateral trade and energy relationships; advancing climate cooperation; coordinating Afghan refugee resettlement; and challenging Chinese and Russian economic and political coercion. As Director General of the Foreign Service, he reinvigorated professional development and recruitment programs to attract, develop, and retain personnel from underrepresented communities. Ambassador Chacon was granted Guatemala’s highest civilian honor for combating child nutrition, supporting justice and security policies, and promoting economic competitiveness.

Ambassador Chacon grew up in Denver and studied International Affairs at the University of Colorado. He has received numerous leadership honors, including two Presidential Rank Awards and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Distinguished Civilian Award for his leadership at the National Defense University. He speaks Spanish and Italian as well as some French. He is married to Alida Chacon who also is retired from the Foreign Service. They have three children.