The US Embassy in Colombia announced that John McNamara will retire on February 13, 2026, ending his role as chargé d'affaires. Daniel Newlin's nomination for ambassador failed due to missing documentation, and Jarahn Hillsman will temporarily take over.
The US Embassy in Colombia confirmed that John McNamara, current chargé d'affaires, will retire from the State Department on Friday, February 13, 2026. In an official statement, it reads: "After a long and distinguished career in public service, John McNamara has decided to retire from the State Department. Mr. McNamara will conclude his duties as chargé d'affaires of the Embassy on Friday, February 13, 2026".
McNamara has served in Colombia over four diplomatic periods and previously as a military officer coordinating with the Armed Forces. His retirement follows the collapse of Daniel Newlin's nomination, proposed by President Donald Trump in March 2025. The US Senate returned the nomination because Newlin failed to submit required documentation to the Foreign Relations Committee, archiving it due to expiration of terms.
While a new ambassador is selected, Jarahn Hillsman, current minister counselor at the Bogotá Embassy, will serve as acting chargé d'affaires. Hillsman has experience as director of Haitian Affairs, minister counselor in Bolivia, deputy chief of the political section in Honduras, political officer in Ecuador, and vice consul in El Salvador. He holds a master's in International Affairs from Columbia University and a bachelor's in Urban Studies and Planning from California State University, Northridge, and is originally from Los Angeles.
This transition comes after President Gustavo Petro's recent agenda in Washington, where he met with Trump to restore diplomatic channels, discuss anti-drug cooperation, and address relations with Venezuela and Ecuador, including clean energy projects in border areas.
