Bernadette Meehan

Bernadette Meehan
Born	1975 Bronx, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Diplomat
Years active	2004–present
Known for	United States Ambassador to Chile (2022–2025), Executive Vice President for Global Programs at the Obama Foundation, spokesperson for the United States National Security Council under Barack Obama

Bernadette M. Meehan (born 1975) is an American diplomat who held the position of United States Ambassador to Chile from 2022 until 2025. She served as Executive Vice President for Global Programs at the Obama Foundation and was the spokesperson for the United States National Security Council during Barack Obama’s presidency. Meehan also dedicated over ten years as a Foreign Service Officer within the United States Department of State.

Early life and education

Meehan was born in the Bronx and grew up in Pleasantville, New York. She completed her secondary education at Kennedy Catholic High School in Somers. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Boston College. Following her graduation, she began her career on Wall Street, working at JPMorgan Chase and subsequently at Lehman Brothers, before entering the United States Foreign Service.

Career

Meehan’s Foreign Service career commenced in 2004 at the U.S. Embassy in Bogota, Colombia. In 2006, she endured a kidnapping and assault incident in Bogota; two assailants received ten-year prison sentences while two others remain unidentified.

After two years in Colombia, she volunteered for assignment in Iraq, where she worked at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad between 2006 and 2007 as a Consular Officer and briefly served as Special Assistant to Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad. During this period, she was injured by a rocket attack launched by an Iran-backed militia.

In 2007, Meehan studied Arabic at the Department of State's Foreign Service Institute, then took on the role of public affairs officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. That same year, she was honored as a Powell Fellow, recognized among a select group of twelve emerging leaders within the State Department.

Returning to Washington in 2010, Meehan supported the Secretary of State’s international travel operations as a Line Officer before serving as Special Assistant to the Secretary. In 2012, she joined the White House National Security Council (NSC), becoming its spokesperson in 2014.

Meehan departed from the NSC in 2015 to become an adjunct professor and State Department fellow at Georgetown University’s Institute for the Study of Diplomacy. She was called back to coordinate planning for President Obama’s landmark visit to Havana, Cuba—reflecting the trip's diplomatic significance. Subsequently, she acted as Senior Advisor to President Obama until January 2017.

In February 2017, Meehan transitioned from the Foreign Service to assume the role of Chief International Officer at the Chicago-based Obama Foundation, established by President and Mrs. Obama to foster global leadership. She directed all international initiatives including the Obama Foundation Scholars and Leaders programs across regions such as Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Europe. Meehan later advanced to Executive Vice President for Global Programs and joined the Foundation's Executive Committee.

Additionally, she has contributed her expertise to advisory boards for Georgetown University’s Institute for the Study of Diplomacy and Hostage US, a nonprofit organization assisting families of Americans held hostage abroad.

United States Ambassador to Chile

On July 9, 2021, President Joe Biden put forward Meehan's nomination for the position of United States ambassador to Chile. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee conducted hearings on March 15, 2022, and subsequently reported her nomination favorably on May 18. The United States Senate confirmed her appointment with a 51–44 vote on July 20, 2022. She officially took the oath of office on August 29, 2022, and formally presented her credentials to Chilean President Gabriel Boric on September 30, 2022.

Throughout her ambassadorship, Meehan cultivated a significant following on social media and gained recognition within Chile. Her participation in a skydive alongside U.S. and Chilean Special Forces during the joint military exercise Southern Star attracted media coverage in El Mercurio.

Meehan secured several notable achievements in commercial and regulatory arenas. These included the successful passage of the U.S.-Chile Bilateral Tax Treaty after it had remained stalled in the U.S. Senate for more than ten years; facilitating Google's leading investment in the Humboldt Cable, which is the first subsea cable connecting South America with the Asia-Pacific region; and negotiating a side letter to the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement that safeguarded market access for U.S. dairy and meat exports under commonly used product names.

During her service, prominent U.S. mining corporations announced significant expansion plans: Freeport McMoRan committed $7.5 billion toward copper mining projects, while Albemarle increased its lithium extraction and processing operations.

In line with customary practices for political appointees following a change in administration, Meehan submitted her resignation effective January 10, 2025, after President Donald Trump's election.

Personal life

Meehan is proficient in both Spanish and Arabic. She is married to Evan S. Medeiros, who holds the Penner Family Chair in Asian Studies at Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service. Medeiros has held senior positions within the National Security Council during the Obama administration, including roles as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Asia.

External links

• Join President Obama in Berlin: Join President Obama in Berlin
• President Obama's Visit to Indonesia: President Obama's Visit to Indonesia
• President Obama's Visit with Emerging Leaders in Singapore: President Obama’s Visit with Emerging Leaders in Singapore
• President Obama's Visit to New Zealand: President Obama's Visit to New Zealand
• The Obama Foundation Scholars Program: The Obama Foundation Scholars Program