U.S. Names New Diplomat as Lagos Consul General
The United States Mission in Nigeria has announced the appointment of Brandon Hudspeth as the new Consul General at the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos.
Hudspeth starts a three-year tour as senior U.S. government official for 17 states in southern Nigeria. He replaces Rick Swart, who retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in July.
Hudspeth, a career diplomat and member of the U.S. Senior Foreign Service, is returning to Lagos for a second tour, where he previously served as Political-Economic Section Chief at the consulate from 2020 to 2022.
“I am honored to be back in Lagos as the U.S. Consul General,” Hudspeth said.
I know at first hand the strength of the U.S.-Nigeria partnership, and the extraordinary energy, ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit that Nigerians and Americans share.
“I look forward to reconnecting with old friends, forging new partnerships and working with Nigerians to expand trade and investment, promote innovation and enhance cooperation in the technology and creative industries,” he added.
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He said the efforts would create new opportunities and shared prosperity between Nigeria and the United States.
Hudspeth has some 20 years of diplomatic experience in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Washington.
Prior to his assignment in Lagos, he was Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Windhoek, Namibia.
His previous assignments include Director of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement at the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines, where he oversaw U.S. civilian assistance programs to support law enforcement, rule of law, counter-narcotics efforts, and maritime security cooperation.
He also served as Political-Economic Section Chief in Bamako, Mali, Nonimmigrant Visa Chief in Havana, Cuba, and Political-Military Officer in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Hudspeth has served in the State Department’s Operations Center, as a Secretariat Staff member supporting the Secretary of State, and as a Desk Officer in the Bureau of African Affairs in Washington, D.C.
Hudspeth is a native of Texas and earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Economics from Morehouse College. He also holds a Master of Public Policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School and a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University, where he was a Distinguished Graduate.
The U.S. Mission said his new assignment would help to further strengthen diplomatic and economic ties between Nigeria and the United States.
