Rita Rico has officially assumed her post as the new United States Consul in the Azores. She replaces Margaret Campbell, who served as Principal Officer for the U.S. Consulate in Ponta Delgada from 2022 to July 2025.
She was formally welcomed by the President of the Regional Government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro, during a reception at the Sant’Ana Palace in Ponta Delgada.
President Bolieiro underlined the symbolic importance of the consulate, noting that “the U.S. Consulate in Ponta Delgada is believed to be the oldest continuously operating consulate in the world, which shows the depth of our shared history and enduring partnership.”
In her remarks, Rita Rico highlighted the Lajes Air Base as one of the region’s most relevant topics and concerns, stating that “The Regional Government has demonstrated openness to factual, trust-based dialogue, and I am confident we will continue building on that spirit.”
President Bolieiro welcomed her words and stressed the need to deepen ties beyond security cooperation, highlighting opportunities in science, technology, and cultural exchange.
“The Azorean communities in the United States are living bridges between our peoples,” he said, “and with Consul Rico’s experience and dedication, we look forward to strengthening these ties further.”
Originally from Chicago, Rico brings strong academic and professional credentials to the role. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University, a master’s from the University of Guadalajara in Mexico, and a PhD from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Before joining the U.S. State Department in 2010, she served as a senior adviser in the U.S. Senate.
Her diplomatic career includes postings in Brazil, Venezuela, Kenya, and Chile, as well as strategic communications work in London, where she supervised speechwriting for the U.S. Ambassador. In 2022, she also completed a Transatlantic Diplomatic Fellowship at the UK Prime Minister’s Office.
The U.S. Consulate in the Azores holds historic significance as the oldest continuously operating American consulate in the world. It was first established in 1795, when President George Washington appointed John Street as the U.S. Consul during Thomas Jefferson’s tenure as Secretary of State. Originally based in Horta, on the island of Faial, the consulate was relocated to Ponta Delgada on São Miguel Island in April 1899. Its mission includes supporting American citizens in the region and fostering educational, commercial, and cultural exchanges between the U.S. and the Azores.
PAJ/Staff
The Azores (population 250,000) is a region of Portugal composed of nine islands. The archipelago, discovered by Portuguese explorers in the 15th century, became an Autonomous Region of Portugal in 1976. The government of the Autonomous Region of the Azores includes the Legislative Assembly, composed of 57 elected deputies, elected by universal suffrage for a four-year term; the Regional Government and Presidency, with parliamentary legitimacy, composed of a President, a Vice-President and seven Regional Secretaries responsible for the Regional Government’s executive operations. The Autonomous Region of the Azores is represented in the Council of Ministers of the Central Government by a representative appointed by the President of Portugal. According to the latest US census, over 1.3 million individuals of Portuguese descent live in the United States, the majority with roots in the Azores. It is estimated that over 20,000 US citizens live in Portugal.
