Jonathan D. Farrar is the United States Ambassador to the Republic of Panama. He presented his credentials to President Ricardo Martinelli on May 15, 2012. Ambassador Farrar joined the State Department in 1980 as an economic officer, and is a career member of the U.S. Senior Foreign Service.
Prior to his arrival in Panama, Ambassador Farrar was Chief of Mission of the U.S. Interests Section in Havana, Cuba from 2008-2011. Ambassador Farrar served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL), and was DRL’s Acting Assistant Secretary from August 2007 to March 2008. In this capacity, Ambassador Farrar oversaw DRL’s human rights and democracy programs around the world, with a particular focus on Asia and the Western Hemisphere. From 2004 to 2005, Ambassador Farrar served as a Deputy Assistant Secretary in the State Department’s International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Bureau (INL), with responsibility for INL’s programs in the Western Hemisphere, Africa, Asia, and Europe.
Ambassador Farrar’s career includes extensive experience in Latin America. His was the Deputy Chief of Mission in Montevideo, Uruguay. Ambassador Farrar also served at the U.S. embassies in Mexico, Belize, and Paraguay.
Ambassador Farrar has held a variety of domestic assignments in the State Department’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, including service as Deputy Director of the Office of Andean Affairs and as country desk officer for Argentina. Ambassador Farrar served twice on the staff of the Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs, most recently as chief of staff to the Under Secretary from 2002 to 2004.
Ambassador Farrar was born in Los Angeles, California. He studied at California State Polytechnic University Pomona, Claremont Graduate School, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Ambassador Farrar and his wife Terry have three children and a grandchild.
