The U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica has officially welcomed Jennifer Savage as its new Chargé d’Affaires, following the departure of Ambassador Dr. Cynthia A. Telles earlier this year.

Savage succeeds Michael “Mike” Flores, who served as interim head of mission after Telles stepped down in January.

According to a statement from the embassy, Savage is a veteran diplomat who brings extensive experience to her new role overseeing U.S.-Costa Rica relations, as the two nations continue to deepen their strategic partnership.

A career Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State, Savage has nearly 30 years of experience in consular, political, economic, and management assignments. Her previous postings include Haiti, Vietnam, Ireland, Ecuador, the Philippines, and Mexico.

Most recently, she led the Office of Canadian Affairs and has previously served as Chargé d’Affaires and Deputy Chief of Mission in both Uruguay and Zimbabwe.

Savage joined the Foreign Service in 1996 after graduating from American University. The embassy described her as “passionate about leadership, work-life balance, and shaping the future of diplomacy.” She is joined in Costa Rica by her husband, fellow diplomat John “JP” Patterson. The couple has one son and two adult children.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has nominated Melinda Hildebrand, a Houston-based businesswoman and philanthropist, to serve as the next U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has not yet announced a hearing date for her confirmation.

The United States and Costa Rica established diplomatic relations in 1851. Today, Costa Rica is a key U.S. ally in the region, known for its strong democratic institutions and commitment to shared priorities, including security, human rights, good governance, economic development, climate action, and addressing the root causes of irregular migration.

“Costa Rica is a strong democracy of more than five million people with deep ties to the United States,” the embassy stated on its website. “It remains a committed partner on critical U.S. regional goals.”

Costa Rica is also a major destination for American retirees and travelers. According to embassy data, roughly 120,000 U.S. citizens, many of them retirees, live in the country.

The United States continues to be Costa Rica’s largest source of tourists, with more than 900,000 Americans visiting in the first half of 2025 alone.

In 2024, U.S. arrivals totaled approximately 1.5 million, representing a 10% increase over the previous year.

In recent weeks, the embassy hosted a bipartisan delegation from the U.S. House of Representatives for high-level talks in Costa Rica focused on regional security, counter-narcotics operations, and transnational crime.

As part of its expanded outreach, the embassy has also been organizing Town Hall meetings across the country. Most recently, senior officials met with U.S. citizens residing in Guanacaste Province.

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