WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Peter Natiello was sworn in as the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Mission Director for Colombia.  Beth Hogan, Acting Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator for Latin America and the Caribbean, administered the oath of office.

Mr. Natiello will oversee the mission in Colombia, one of USAID's largest in the Western Hemisphere.  In Colombia, USAID promotes economic prosperity through the licit economy; improves the living conditions of Colombia’s most vulnerable groups, including victims of conflict, Afro-Colombians and indigenous persons; promotes respect for human rights and rule of law; and addresses climate change and environmental issues in one of the most ecologically diverse countries in the world.

Prior to this position, Mr. Natiello was the Deputy Mission Director in South Sudan, during the first year of the country’s independence (2011 – 2012).  From 2009 to 2011, he served as USAID’s Senior Development Advisor to the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) in Tampa, Florida, deploying twice to Haiti to assist with the USG earthquake response.  Mr. Natiello has also served in Bolivia, Ecuador, and South Africa.  He began his career with USAID in 1992, as a Project Development Officer in Bolivia.