AIT names new Kaohsiung branch chief, deputy

Taipei, July 1 (CNA) The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) on Wednesday announced the appointment of Lee Skluzak as chief of its Kaohsiung branch office, effective Thursday.

Before his assignment to Kaohsiung, Skluzak served as internal political chief at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, according to an AIT press release.

Skluzak joined the U.S. Department of State in 2011 and has held overseas postings at the U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou; the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo; the U.S. Consulate General in Chengdu; and the U.S. Embassy in The Hague.

Separately, the AIT on Monday announced that Harry R. Thompson would serve as deputy chief of its Kaohsiung branch office.

As deputy branch chief in Kaohsiung, Thompson will oversee economic and consular affairs, it said.

Before taking up his new role, he served in the Political Section of the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, leading law enforcement and counternarcotics engagement.

His previous overseas assignments also include the U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai; the U.S. Embassy in Dili, Timor-Leste; and the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi.

The AIT represents U.S. interests in Taiwan in the absence of formal diplomatic relations. Headquartered in Virginia, it operates its main office in Taipei and a branch office in Kaohsiung, with the Taipei office director serving as the top U.S. representative in Taiwan.