Elizabeth Anne Noseworthy Fitzsimmons
United States Ambassador to the Togolese Republic (2022–2024) | Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Minister-Counselor Class
Elizabeth Anne Noseworthy Fitzsimmons, United States Ambassador to Togo (2022-2024)
Key Facts: Elizabeth Fitzsimmons
- Position: U.S. Ambassador to Togo (April 26, 2022 – August 2024)
- Preceded: Eric William Stromayer
- Rank: Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Minister-Counselor Class
- Notable Achievement: Youngest person ever to join the Foreign Service when sworn in (1995)
- Case Inherited: Sgt. Kelvin Blas – U.S. Army veteran stranded in Togo since March 2020
- Action Taken: Continued pattern of abandonment established by predecessor Stromayer
- Accountability: No documented effort to investigate or resolve discriminatory treatment
- Current Status: Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Conflict and Stabilization Operations (term ended February 28, 2025)
- Impact: Failed to remedy systematic abandonment during critical two-year window
The Inheritance of Abandonment
When Ambassador Elizabeth Fitzsimmons presented her credentials to Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé on April 26, 2022, she inherited more than just Eric Stromayer’s diplomatic post. She inherited a documented case of racial discrimination and systematic abandonment that had been ongoing for over two years.
By the time Ambassador Fitzsimmons assumed her role, the facts were clear and undeniable:
- Sgt. Kelvin Blas was a verified U.S. Army veteran with 13 years of service
- He had been stranded in Togo since March 2020
- Her predecessor had allegedly told him “Americans aren’t Black”
- The embassy maintained an official file on him
- He had received zero consular assistance for over two years
- Family members had reported him missing to the State Department
Ambassador Fitzsimmons served for over two years in Togo. During this entire period, Sgt. Blas remained abandoned, homeless, and without adequate resources in Lomé. Not once during her ambassadorship did the situation improve. Not once was an investigation launched. Not once was corrective action taken.
The Opportunity for Accountability—Squandered
Ambassador Fitzsimmons’s arrival in April 2022 represented a critical opportunity to correct the injustice perpetrated by her predecessor. As the new Chief of Mission, she had full authority to:
- Review Sgt. Blas’s consular file and investigate the discriminatory treatment allegations
- Provide immediate emergency assistance to a homeless American veteran
- Coordinate with the Togolese government to resolve his legal status
- Arrange emergency repatriation to the United States
- Refer the case to the State Department’s Office of Civil Rights for investigation
- Document and report the previous administration’s failures
Instead, Ambassador Fitzsimmons chose silence and inaction. The abandonment continued uninterrupted, as if the change in leadership at the embassy had never occurred.
A Career Built on Public Diplomacy—Silent on American Citizens
Ambassador Fitzsimmons’s career trajectory makes her failure in the Kelvin Blas case all the more striking. Her extensive background includes:
- Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Diplomacy in multiple bureaus
- Acting Deputy Spokesperson for the State Department (March-August 2018)
- Deputy Executive Secretary to Secretaries John Kerry and Rex Tillerson
- Deputy Assistant Secretary for Central Africa and Public Diplomacy
Public diplomacy is about communicating American values abroad. Yet when confronted with a case requiring precisely those values—equal protection, human dignity, and commitment to American citizens—Ambassador Fitzsimmons remained silent.
She spoke fluently to North Dakota State University about educational partnerships. She met with Togolese officials about the Millennium Challenge Corporation reforms. She promoted the Ambassador’s Resilience Fund and Self-Help programs. But for a Black American veteran abandoned by her own embassy? Silence.
The Timeline of Continued Abandonment
April 26, 2022: Ambassador Fitzsimmons Assumes Post
Presents credentials to President Gnassingbé. Inherits Kelvin Blas case with full knowledge of embassy file and two years of abandonment history.
April 2022 – August 2024: Two Years of Inaction
Throughout her entire ambassadorship:
- No investigation of Stromayer’s alleged “Americans aren’t Black” statement
- No provision of consular services to Sgt. Blas
- No coordination with Togolese authorities for resolution
- No emergency repatriation arranged
- No documented contact with Sgt. Blas
- No referral to State Department accountability mechanisms
August 2024: Departure
Ambassador Fitzsimmons announces departure in social media video, highlighting her accomplishments in Togo. Makes no mention of the American veteran abandoned under her watch for over two years.
August 12, 2024 – February 28, 2025: New Role
Appointed Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Conflict and Stabilization Operations—a bureau focused on preventing and responding to crises. The irony is palpable.
The Bureau of African Affairs Connection
Prior to her ambassadorship, Elizabeth Fitzsimmons served as Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of African Affairs. This position gave her oversight responsibilities for U.S. diplomatic missions across the African continent—including the very embassy in Lomé where Sgt. Blas was being abandoned.
This raises critical questions:
- Was Ambassador Fitzsimmons aware of the Kelvin Blas case before assuming the ambassadorship?
- Did she review embassy files regarding American citizens in distress during her time at AF Bureau?
- Was there any transition briefing from Stromayer about ongoing consular cases?
- Did anyone in the Bureau of African Affairs flag this case as requiring immediate attention?
If she knew about the case before arriving in Lomé, her subsequent inaction becomes even more damning. If she didn’t know, it reveals catastrophic failures in State Department case management and transition protocols.
Diplomatic Priorities vs. Citizen Welfare
Public reporting on Ambassador Fitzsimmons’s tenure highlights numerous accomplishments:
- Ambassador’s Resilience Fund: $100,000 annually for violent extremism prevention
- Ambassador’s Self-Help Fund: $75,000 annually to 20 organizations
- African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) economic exchanges
- Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact program eligibility
- Threshold program for ICT services and land rights formalization
- U.S.-North Dakota partnership programs
- Transportation safety initiatives
These are legitimate diplomatic achievements. But they cannot excuse the fundamental failure to protect an American citizen in her jurisdiction. The first duty of any U.S. ambassador is the welfare and protection of American citizens in the host country. All other priorities are secondary.
Ambassador Fitzsimmons found time and resources for dozens of programs benefiting Togolese institutions and citizens. She found zero time or resources for one stranded American veteran.
The “Conflict and Stabilization” Irony
In August 2024, Ambassador Fitzsimmons was appointed Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSO). According to the State Department, this bureau works to:
- “Advance U.S. national security by driving integrated diplomatic efforts to prevent, respond to, and stabilize crises in priority countries”
- “Strengthen U.S. government capacity to anticipate, prevent, and respond to conflict”
- “Coordinate with interagency and international partners”
The Kelvin Blas case represents precisely the kind of crisis that CSO’s mandate describes: an American citizen in distress, requiring coordinated government response, in a vulnerable situation that could be anticipated and prevented with basic consular services.
Yet the person now leading conflict stabilization efforts is the same person who watched an American veteran remain abandoned and homeless in West Africa for two years without taking action.
Professional Accomplishments and Fundamental Failure
Diplomatic Career Highlights
| Position | Location/Office | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary | Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations | 2024–2025 |
| United States Ambassador | Togolese Republic | 2022–2024 |
| Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary | Bureau of African Affairs | Prior to 2022 |
| Deputy Assistant Secretary | Central Africa and Public Diplomacy | 2018–2022 |
| Acting Deputy Spokesperson | State Department | March–August 2018 |
| Deputy Executive Secretary | Secretaries Kerry and Tillerson | 2016–2017 |
| Senior Advisor | Foreign Service Institute | 2017–2018 |
| Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Diplomacy | Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs | 2015–2016 |
| Various Posts | Taiwan, Hong Kong, Cambodia, India, Bulgaria | 1995–2015 |
Education and Recognition
| Achievement | Details |
|---|---|
| Bachelor of Arts | University of Virginia (East Asian Studies) |
| Certificate | International Division at Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan (1993) |
| Languages | French, Mandarin Chinese, Bulgarian |
| Recognition | International Women’s Forum Fellow (2009)—one of only 25 women worldwide |
| Historic Achievement | Youngest person to join the Foreign Service at time of swearing-in (1995) |
Personal Background
- Born 1972/1973 (currently 52-53 years old)
- First marriage: Trevor Morrison Fitzsimmons (November 27, 1999) – ended in divorce
- Current marriage: Diplomatic Security Special Agent Richard Seipert (married 2011)
- Children: Five
- Family background: Father was associate medical director and chief of surgery at Nemours Children’s Clinic, Jacksonville; Mother was president and chairwoman of Delaware Symphony (1993-1996)
Ambassador Fitzsimmons’s career is objectively impressive. She rose to senior ranks quickly, served in challenging posts, received prestigious recognition, and maintained a reputation for competence and professionalism.
None of this excuses abandoning an American veteran.
The Questions That Demand Answers
- Did Ambassador Fitzsimmons review Sgt. Kelvin Blas’s consular file upon assuming her post? If yes, what did she find? If no, why not?
- Was she briefed about the alleged “Americans aren’t Black” incident during her transition from Ambassador Stromayer? If yes, why did she take no action? If no, who failed to brief her on this critical case?
- Did she ever meet with or communicate with Sgt. Blas during her two-year tenure? If yes, what was discussed and why was no assistance provided? If no, why did she avoid contact with an American citizen in distress in her jurisdiction?
- Did she refer the case to the State Department’s Office of Civil Rights or Office of Inspector General? If yes, what was the outcome? If no, why not?
- Did she coordinate with the Togolese government regarding Sgt. Blas’s legal status and passport situation? If yes, what were the results? If no, why abandon this fundamental ambassadorial responsibility?
- Did anyone on her embassy staff advocate for providing services to Sgt. Blas? If yes, how did she respond? If no, what does that say about embassy culture?
- Why did she highlight numerous programs and initiatives in her departure video but make no mention of the American veteran abandoned under her watch?
- What qualification does someone who abandoned an American citizen for two years have to lead “conflict and stabilization” efforts?
- Will the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations now investigate the case she ignored as Ambassador?
- Who at the State Department reviewed her performance as Ambassador and deemed it satisfactory despite this glaring failure?
Ambassadorial Oath and Responsibilities
When Ambassador Fitzsimmons was sworn in as Ambassador to Togo, she took an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. Implicit in that oath and explicit in her ambassadorial responsibilities were duties including:
- Protection of American Citizens: Ensuring the welfare and safety of U.S. citizens in the host country
- Consular Services: Providing passport services, emergency assistance, and welfare checks
- Equal Protection: Serving all American citizens without discrimination based on race, religion, ethnicity, or other protected characteristics
- Coordination with Host Government: Working with local authorities to resolve problems affecting American citizens
- Reporting and Accountability: Documenting and reporting significant consular cases to Washington
In the case of Sgt. Kelvin Blas, Ambassador Fitzsimmons appears to have failed every single one of these fundamental responsibilities.
The Pattern Continues: Institutional Protection Over Citizen Welfare
Ambassador Fitzsimmons’s appointment to the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, with her term ending February 28, 2025, demonstrates a troubling reality: The State Department rewards or at minimum does not penalize senior officials who abandon American citizens.
Eric Stromayer allegedly told a Black veteran “Americans aren’t Black,” completed his ambassadorship, and went on to lead the Haiti mission. Elizabeth Fitzsimmons inherited that abandoned veteran, did nothing for two years, and was promoted to a senior position focused on crisis response.
This pattern sends a clear message throughout the Foreign Service: Protecting the institution’s reputation matters more than protecting American citizens. There are no consequences for abandonment. There are no investigations. There is no accountability.
Impact on Sgt. Kelvin Blas
For Sgt. Blas, Ambassador Fitzsimmons’s tenure represented hope squandered. When Stromayer departed, there was finally an opportunity for a new ambassador to review the case with fresh eyes, investigate what happened, and provide the assistance that should have been given from the beginning.
Instead, the abandonment simply continued. Two more years of homelessness. Two more years without consular services. Two more years of mental health challenges unaddressed. Two more years of family separation. Two more years of a veteran being told through inaction that his service didn’t matter and his citizenship wasn’t real.
By the time Ambassador Fitzsimmons departed in August 2024, Sgt. Blas had been stranded in Togo for over four years. The person best positioned to help him had chosen not to.
Current Status and Next Steps
Ambassador Fitzsimmons’s term as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary ended February 28, 2025. Her current status and future plans are not publicly documented. Whether she will seek additional roles in international diplomacy, consulting, or public service remains unclear.
What is clear is that her failure to address the Kelvin Blas case will remain part of her record. The American people—and especially veterans—deserve to know how senior Foreign Service officers treat Americans in distress abroad.
Documentation and Resources
Official Sources
- State Department – Official Biography
- Wikipedia – Elizabeth Fitzsimmons
- U.S. Embassy Lomé – Ambassador Biography
- Senate Foreign Relations Committee – Confirmation Materials
Related CFW Documentation
- Eric Stromayer Profile – The Ambassador Who Started It All
- Carlos Hernandez Profile – The Pattern of Dismissal
- Full Case Documentation: Sgt. Kelvin Blas
- TSM FOIA Tracker – All State Department Requests
FOIA and Accountability
- State Department FOIA Office
- State Department Office of Civil Rights
- State Department Office of Inspector General
- FOIA.gov – Understanding Your Rights
Demand Accountability
Elizabeth Fitzsimmons had two years and full ambassadorial authority to correct the injustice perpetrated by her predecessor. She chose inaction. The State Department owes Sgt. Kelvin Blas—and every American citizen—answers.
A Note on Accountability
This profile documents publicly available information about Ambassador Elizabeth Fitzsimmons’s tenure as U.S. Ambassador to Togo and her handling of the Sgt. Kelvin Blas case. Ambassador Fitzsimmons is a senior government official whose actions (or inaction) directly affected the welfare of an American citizen abroad. Therefore, transparency about her conduct serves the public interest.
The information presented serves to document how abandonment operates at the highest levels of American diplomatic missions and to identify officials whose conduct may have violated fundamental principles of equal protection and consular responsibility.
If you are a current or former State Department employee with information about the handling of Sgt. Kelvin Blas’s case during Ambassador Fitzsimmons’s tenure (2022-2024), or if you have experienced similar treatment at U.S. diplomatic missions abroad, please preserve all relevant records. You may contact CFW confidentially at [email protected].
The American people have a right to know when their ambassadors fail to protect citizens abroad. Accountability is not optional. It is essential.
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