WASHINGTON, DC – Incoming U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director for Armenia, Robin Phillips, was sworn in at a ceremony in at the Agency’s headquarters at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, DC last week reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA.) 

“We were pleased to be on hand – along with family, friends, and colleagues – for Robin’s swearing-in ceremony,” said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA.  “While this marked the formal start of his duties as mission director, we have been fortunate to have worked constructively with Robin for the past several months, here in Washington and in Armenia.  We have, during this time, been impressed by the depth of Robin’s experience, his leadership skills, and – perhaps most importantly – his sincere commitment to the growth of the U.S.-Armenia partnership.”

The swearing in ceremony was presided by Carol Peasley, Counselor for USAID, and included remarks by His Excellency Arman Kirakossian, Armenian Ambassador to the U.S.  Kirakossian urged Phillips, who is fluent in Japanese and Chinese, to learn Armenian, but went on to note that “even if you do not learn Armenian, you will not have difficulty communicating with both ordinary Armenians or government officials, because we may speak different languages, but our nations share similar values and the same respect for democratic principles, human rights and the rule of law.”

Phillips has worked for USAID since 1984, beginning as an economic officer in the USAID Mission in Bridgetown, Barbados.  His subsequent assignments have taken him to Nairobi, Kenya and Kampala, Uganda, as well as Armenia  Phillips holds multiple degrees; a bachelor’s degree from Harvard in language studies, a master’s of art in Asian Studies and Political Science from Stanford University and a master’s of science in Economics from the London School of Economics.

#####