WASHINGTON — United States President Donald Trump has announced his intended candidate for the post of US ambassador to Singapore, a post that has been vacant since 2017.

The nominee, Ms Barbera Hale Thornhill, is the president of Impact Design, an interior design firm in Los Angeles.

“Ms Thornhill’s extensive philanthropic work has addressed the needs of children affected by poverty, abuse and neglect, especially as secretary of the board of the Children’s Institute of Los Angeles,” the White House said.

She has promoted literacy, technology and cultural programmes through the Library Foundation of Los Angeles, as a board member of the West Los Angeles County Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and as a leader of the National Children’s Chorus of Los Angeles and New York, it added in its announcement of her nomination.

She is a member of the Getty Research Institute Council, the Getty Paintings Council, the World Affairs Council, and the Pacific Council on International Policy.

Ms Thornhill attended the University of California at Los Angeles, George Washington University and North Carolina State University in Raleigh, the White house added.

The appointment of ambassadors must be confirmed by the US Senate in a process that involves extensive checks, a hearing and a vote.

The post has been vacant since Mr Kirk Wagar left the post in early 2017 just prior to Mr Trump's inauguration. Mr Wagar was appointed by Mr Trump's predecessor Barack Obama.

Former US Deputy Security Adviser KT McFarland was nominated for the post in May 2017 and had testified to the Senate in July 2017. 

But her nomination stalled due to concerns about her testimony to Congress over communications with Russia. The Trump administration resubmitted her nomination in January 2018 but the following month, she asked to have the nomination withdrawn after it stalled in the Senate.

Rafik Mansour currently serves as the embassy’s Charge d’Affaires. CNA

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