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Nathalie Rayes

Nathalie Rayes (born January 12, 1975) is an American diplomat who had served the United States Ambassador to the Republic of Croatia. Most recently, she was president and CEO of Latino Victory. She chaired the Hispanic Federation and the Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) Binational Advisory Group and was a board member of the Aspen Institute Latinos and Society Program.[1] In 2022, Rayes was appointed by President Joe Biden to serve as a board member of the United States Institute of Peace.[2] In 2023, she was nominated by the United States President Joe Biden as US ambassador to Croatia.[3] She was confirmed by the Senate on December 6, 2023, by a 53–47 vote.[4] She presented her credentials to Croatian President Zoran Milanović on January 25, 2024.[5]

Background and education

Nathalie Rayes and her parents moved from Venezuela to Marina del Rey, California, when she was nine. Her father died soon after moving to the United States.[6]

Rayes earned a B.A. in Sociology and an M.P.P. with concentrations in International Relations and Education, at the University of California, Los Angeles.[7]

Career

Nathalie Rayes was previously president and CEO of Latino Victory.[8] She also chaired the Hispanic Federation and the Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) Binational Advisory Group, served as vice chair of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and was a board member of the Aspen Institute Latinos and Society Program.[1] She was also on the boards of Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) and Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI).

In 2014, she was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve on the board of the Woodrow Wilson Center.[9] In 2022, Rayes was appointed by President Joe Biden to the board of the United States Institute of Peace.[2] In 2023, she was nominated by the United States President Joe Biden as US ambassador to Croatia.[3]

Rayes started her career as a field deputy and later Senior Policy Advisor to Los Angeles council member Mike Feuer.[1] Afterwards, Rayes served as chief of staff to Los Angeles mayor James Hahn.[10] She was Vice President of public affairs for Grupo Salinas in the United States and executive director of Fundación Azteca America.[6][11] In 1998, she was a State Department fellow in the U.S. Embassy in Cairo in the economic political section.[1]

U.S. Ambassador to Croatia

In 2023, Rayes was nominated by the United States President Joe Biden as U.S. ambassador to Croatia and subsequently confirmed by the United States Senate on December 6, 2023.[12] She was sworn into the role on December 11, 2023, and presented her credentials to Croatian President Zoran Milanović on January 25, 2024,[13][5] becoming the first Venezuelan-American to hold the post.[14]

Upon arriving in Croatia, Rayes met with Croatia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Ivan Anušić on January 29, 2024.[15] Minister Anušić underscored the importance of deepening bilateral defense cooperation. Rayes highlighted Croatia’s support for Ukraine as exemplary. Discussions included ongoing US military assistance, such as the delivery of Bradley fighting vehicles and approval for the sale of UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters and HIMARS rocket launchers to Croatia.[16]

Rayes also supported economic initiatives, including the expansion of the Krk LNG terminal, and advocated for legislation to screen foreign investments.[17] In the fall of 2024, she hosted a regional summit of U.S. ambassadors in Zagreb to coordinate diplomatic efforts across the Balkans.[18]

Chiefs of U.S. diplomatic missions from Albania, BiH, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia attending the Chief of Missions regional conference in Zagreb hosted by U.S. Ambassador Nathalie Rayes in September 2024.

Honors and awards

In 2016, UCLA Luskin of Public Affairs recognized Nathalie Rayes as "Alumna of the Year".[11] In 2021, she was named among the "25 Most Powerful Latinas" in People en Español magazine.[19] Rayes has been recognized by Huffington Post in the group "40 Under 40 Latinos in Foreign Policy" as one of the most influential Latina leaders in international policy.[10] Other awards include in 2021 and 2022, Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA) Most Powerful Latinas,[20] in 2021 AL DÍA Archetype Ambassador Manuel Torres Award,[21] and in 2013, Santa Monica College Distinguished Alumna Recognition Award for Outstanding Professional and Community Service.[22]

In April 2025, the Hispanic Federation awarded Rayes its 2025 Humanitarian Award for a "distinguished career" that "spans government, philanthropy, corporate leadership, and international diplomacy— grounded in a deep commitment to public service."[23][24]

Personal life

She is married to Dr. Tarek Samad, a neuroscientist, and they have two sons, Julian and Alexander.

References

  1. ^ a b c d Daily, BELatina (2020-05-11). "An Immigrant woman heads the Latino Victory Project". BELatina. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Nathalie Rayes". United States Institute of Peace. Archived from the original on October 25, 2022. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "President Biden Announces Key Nominees". The White House. May 2, 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
  4. ^ "U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 118th Congress - 1st Session". www.senate.gov. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
  5. ^ a b "Ambassador Nathalie Rayes Presents Her Credentials". 25 January 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Nathalie Rayes, VP of Public Affairs for Grupo Salinas: "I Don't Like Leaving Things to Chance"". mDash. 2018-03-29. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
  7. ^ "President Biden Announces Nathalie Rayes as Nominee for Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Croatia". 3 May 2023.
  8. ^ Bernal, Rafael (2023-12-04). "Latino Victory Project names new leadership". thehill.com. Nexstar Media Inc. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  9. ^ "President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts". The White House. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
  10. ^ a b "40 Under 40: Latinos in Foreign Policy". HuffPost. 2015-10-13. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
  11. ^ a b Manriquez, Pablo (2016-12-07). "Latinas for Change: Nathalie Rayes leaves her mark across the country". Fox News. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
  12. ^ "Barragán Statement on Senate Confirmation of Nathalie Rayes to Serve as U.S. Ambassador to Croatia – Congresswoman Barragan". Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  13. ^ "NATHALIE RAYES SWORN IN AS U.S. AMBASSADOR TO CROATIA, MAKING HISTORIC STRIDES AS THE FIRST VENEZUELAN-AMERICAN IN THE ROLE". Hispanic Federation. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  14. ^ "Nathalie Rayes Sworn In As U.S. Ambassador To Croatia, Making Historic Strides As The First Venezuelan-American In The Role".
  15. ^ "Minister Anušić meets with the U.S. Ambassador Nathalie Rayes". Republic of Croatia, Ministry of Defence. January 29, 2024.
  16. ^ "US State Department approves sale of HIMARS to Croatia for $390 million". Reuters. August 31, 2024.
  17. ^ Spasojević, Boban (June 26, 2024). "H.E. Nathalie Rayes : I believe the U.S.-Croatia bilateral relationship has never been stronger".
  18. ^ "U.S. Embassy Zagreb's Post | Chief of Missions regional conference". September 26, 2024.
  19. ^ Redacción (2021-04-05). "People en Español nombra a Nathalie Rayes como una de las 25 mujeres más poderosas de 2021". El Tiempo Latino (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-06-21.
  20. ^ "The 50 Most Powerful Latinas in Corporate America | HISPANIC Network Magazine". Hispanic Network Magazine | A Hispanic News Source. 2019-11-21. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
  21. ^ "2021 AL DÍA Archetype: Nathalie Rayes". Al Día News. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
  22. ^ "2021 AL DÍA Archetype: Nathalie Rayes". Al Día News. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
  23. ^ "Hispanic Federation Social Media Page | Humanitarian Award 2025 | Nathalie Rayes". April 9, 2025.
  24. ^ "Hispanic Federation | 2025 Gala Honoree, Humanitarian Award". April 18, 2025.
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by United States Ambassador to Croatia
2024–present 		Incumbent