Published on Friday, January 9, 2026
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

U.S. Ambassador Melinda Hildebrand on Thursday formally assumed her duties in Costa Rica after presenting her letters of credence to President Rodrigo Chaves Robles at the Presidential House in San José.

The credentialing ceremony followed a protocol meeting earlier in the week with Foreign Affairs Minister Arnoldo André, held Tuesday in San José, marking the formal start of Hildebrand’s diplomatic mission.

President Trump nominated Hildebrand in February 2025 to serve as U.S. ambassador to Costa Rica. She was confirmed following a hearing before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee in September 2025. With the presentation of her credentials, “she officially begins her tenure as the President’s personal representative to the Republic of Costa Rica,” the U.S. Embassy said in a statement.

During her meeting with President Chaves, Hildebrand emphasized the strength of bilateral ties between the two countries. “Costa Rica has long been one of the United States’ most reliable partners in the Western Hemisphere, and a country with closely aligned views and priorities,” she said.

 

Hildebrand arrived in Costa Rica on Monday. The U.S. Embassy said her top priority will be ensuring the safety and well-being of U.S. citizens, including an estimated 160,000 Americans who reside in Costa Rica and more than 1.5 million who visit the country each year.

She has expressed interest in working closely with the Costa Rican government to deepen cooperation and strengthen the longstanding partnership between the two nations, officials said.

Hildebrand holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Texas at Austin and has completed additional legal studies at the Southwestern Paralegal Institute. According to Costa Rica’s Foreign Ministry, she speaks Spanish and French in addition to her native English.

She brings experience in philanthropy, business and public service. Hildebrand previously served as president of the Hildebrand Foundation, which awarded more than $390 million in grants supporting higher education, medical services, parks, addiction-related initiatives and assistance for victims of sex trafficking, particularly in the Houston area.

Her board service includes MD Anderson Cancer Center, the University of Texas at Austin and the Houston Parks Board. She also worked with the Alliance to End Addiction, focusing on prevention and education programs addressing addiction, particularly among young people.

Hildebrand has been married to her husband, Jeff Hildebrand, for 36 years. They have three children.

The United States established diplomatic relations with Costa Rica in 1851, following Costa Rica’s independence and the dissolution of the Central American federation.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs oversees the country’s foreign policy and manages its diplomatic missions worldwide.

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