Edgard Kagan

Edgard D. Kagan is an American diplomat who is the designate to serve as the United States ambassador to Malaysia.

Early life and education

Kagan holds a Bachelor of Arts from Yale University.

Career

Kagan is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, with the rank of Minister-Counselor. Currently, he serves as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for East Asia and Oceania at the White House National Security Council. Previously, he served as Deputy Chief of Mission at U.S. embassies in India and Malaysia. Kagan also held several roles in the State Department’s Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. Kagan additionally served as Consul General in Mumbai, India and as the deputy director of the Washington Office of the United States Mission to the United Nations. His other overseas assignments include Australia, China, Israel, among others.

U.S. ambassador to Malaysia

On May 2, 2023, President Joe Biden nominated Kagan to be the next US ambassador to Malaysia. Hearings on his nomination were held before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on June 13, 2023. The committee favorably reported his nomination on July 13, 2023. His nomination was confirmed by the full United States Senate via voice vote on November 8, 2023. He arrived in Malaysia on December 19, 2023. He is awaiting his swearing-in and presentation of credentials.

Awards and recognitions

Kagan has previously won the Presidential Meritorious Award.

Personal life

Kagan speaks French, Mandarin Chinese, Hungarian, and Spanish.