The Ambassador

THE AMBASSADOR: Two Hats. Two Presidents.

From the shores of Puerto Rico to the halls of American diplomatic power, this remarkable memoir chronicles the extraordinary journey of a career public servant who defied the odds to serve as both a U.S. Ambassador and an Assistant Secretary under two different presidents from opposing political parties.

Unlike the glamorized portrayals of diplomacy in popular media, “The Ambassador” reveals the authentic path to America’s highest diplomatic positions, one built not on political connections or campaign donations, but on decades of dedication to public service. With candid reflections on navigating the complex nomination process, insights into the realities of diplomatic life far from the fictional cocktail parties of “Winfield House,” and firsthand accounts of leadership challenges across six presidential administrations, this memoir pulls back the curtain on a world few Americans understand.

Both an inspiring personal story and an illuminating guide to how one’s humble beginnings don’t determine how far you go, “The Ambassador: Two Hats. Two Presidents.” offers readers an unprecedented look at what it truly takes to represent the United States on the world stage.

Author Biography

Ambassador Carmen G. Cantor most recently served as the Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs at the U.S. Department of the Interior where she oversaw the Department’s responsibilities regarding the U.S. territories, freely associated states, international technical engagement, and the oceans, Great Lakes, and coasts. Previously, she served as U.S. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Federated States of Micronesia and in various roles within the Department of State, including as the Executive Director of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and Bureau of International Information Programs, Executive Director of the Bureau of Counterterrorism, Director of the Office of Civil Service Human Resource Management and as Deputy Director for Recruitment, Examination, and Employment. In her over three decades of public service, Ambassador Cantor also served as Director of the Office of Civil Rights for the Foreign Agricultural Service, and as Director of the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity at the Federal Maritime Commission. Ambassador Cantor was born in Puerto Rico and raised in the city of Mayagüez, where she earned a B.A. from the University of Puerto Rico and then an M.A. from the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico. She has a certificate in International Migration Studies from Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies. Ambassador Cantor is married and has three grown children.