Todd D. Robinson

Todd D. Robinson (born c. 1963) is an American diplomat who served as Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs between 2021 and 2025. He previously served as the charge d'affaires of the U.S. embassy in Venezuela from December 2017 until being expelled in May 2018, and the U.S. ambassador to Guatemala from 2014 to 2017.

Early life and education Raised in Fanwood, New Jersey, Robinson graduated from Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School in 1981 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service in 1985 from Georgetown University.

Consular career Robinson joined the State Department in 1986, with his first postings to Colombia (in 1987) and El Salvador (in 1989). He returned to Washington in 1991, to work as watch officer at the operations center of the State Department. In 1993, Robinson was assigned to Rome, Italy as staff assistant to the ambassador at the time, Reginald Bartholomew and two years later was moved across the city to work as the political officer at the Embassy in Vatican City. Hearings were held before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on July 10, 2014. The committee favorably reported his nomination to the Senate floor on July 29, 2014. Robinson was confirmed by the entire Senate via voice vote on September 16, 2014.

He arrived in Guatemala City on October 10 the same year. Their reach was wide. US Senator Mike Lee called for withdrawing US support for CICIG's mission.

The lobbying efforts failed during his term, and Todd Robinson stayed in his position for the usual three years. CICIG was later removed during ambassador Luis E. Arreaga's term.

Venezuela post In December 2017, Robinson was reassigned by President Trump to be charge d'affairs en pied at the embassy in Caracas, Venezuela. In January 2018, Robinson attempted to obtain the release of American citizen, Joshua Holt who had been jailed in the country by meeting with Venezuelan foreign minister, Jorge Arreaza. On 22 May the same year, Robinson and his deputy, Brian Naranjo were expelled from the country as persona non grata by Nicolas Maduro, the newly re-elected president. Days later, Joshua Holt was freed and allowed to return to the United States.

Robinson then served as a senior advisor for Central America in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs in Washington, D.C., and as the Director of the International Student Management Office at the National Defense University.

Biden administration Robinson announces a reward offer of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of alleged MS-13 leader Yulan Adonay Archaga Carias. On April 12, 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Robinson as Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. Hearings on his nomination were held before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on June 15, 2021. The committee favorably reported his nomination to the Senate floor on June 24, 2021. On September 28, 2021, Robinson was confirmed by a vote of 53–41.

He was sworn in on September 30, 2021, and served until January 17, 2025.