Kenneth H. Merten

Kenneth H. Merten (born 1961) is an American diplomat. Merten has served in various positions in the Department of State beginning in 1987, most notably as ambassador to Haiti from 2009 to 2012, ambassador to Croatia from 2012 to 2015, and special coordinator for Haiti from 2015 to 2017. From 2023 to 2025 was United States ambassador to Bulgaria.

Early life Merten was born in St. Louis, Missouri, but moved to Hudson, Ohio when he was twelve, and considers Hudson his home.

He attended Hudson Junior High School and the Walsh Jesuit High School and credits a history teacher named Mark Massa with being influential in his choice of career.

Diplomatic career Merten joined the United States Foreign Service in 1987. He holds the rank of Career Minister. Since then, he has served both at Department of State facilities in Washington, DC and international assignments.

As Haiti Special Coordinator during the 2015-2016 Haitian presidential election Merten traveled to Haiti and spoke about an upcoming verification commission report on fraud in the election, saying "We hope it is very, very quick and does not change the results of the election" in April 2016. He was joined by other U.S. officials pushing for quickly accepted elections. He left the post in January 2017 during the presidential transition of Donald Trump.

From 2017 to 2019, Merten served as the acting principal deputy assistant secretary for the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs.

Nomination as U.S. ambassador to Bulgaria On June 8, 2022, President Joe Biden nominated Merten to serve as the United States ambassador to Bulgaria. On November 29, 2022, hearings on his nomination were held before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. On December 7, 2022, the committee favorably reported the nomination to the Senate. On December 13, 2022, his nomination was confirmed in the Senate by voice vote. He was sworn in by Acting Deputy Secretary John R. Bass on February 3, 2023, and presented his credentials to President Rumen Radev on April 7, 2023.

Honors and awards In July 2012, President Michel Martelly of Haiti awarded Merten with the National Order of Honour and Merit to the rank of Grand Cross for his diplomatic excellence and all his works done for Haiti.

Personal life Merten is married to Susan Greenman Merten, with whom he has had two daughters, Caryl and Elisabeth. He speaks Haitian Creole, French, German and Spanish.