Ambassador C. Steven McGann (ret), formerly a Senior Foreign Service Officer with the rank of Minister-Counselor, was United States Ambassador to the Republics of Fiji, Nauru, Kiribati and the Kingdoms of Tonga and Tuvalu. He transformed Embassy Suva into a hub post for the Pacific by expanding regional offices and building the largest chancery in the region. Ambassador McGann’s other senior assignments include Charge’d’Affaires Embassy, Dili, Timor-Leste during the interregnum between confirmed COM’s, Director, EAP/ANP where he implemented new strategies for strengthening relations with Australia, rehabilitated the relationship with New Zealand and re-engaged policy with Pacific Island Countries.
Evan Karlik spent his early childhood in Western Samoa and the Philippines, and has served as an officer in the U.S. Navy since 2007. Between 2011 and 2014, he was stationed in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, as a Navy P-3 Orion maritime patrol pilot and plane commander. In 2018, Evan served as defense fellow to Congressman Joe Courtney (D-CT) in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he assisted with Armed Services hearing preparation, speechwriting, mark-up of the FY19 National Defense Authorization Act, defense appropriations, and coordination between the congressional Friends of Australia Caucus and the Australian Embassy. He received his undergraduate degree in mechanical and ocean engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and holds graduate degrees from Stanford University and the University of Maryland School of Public Policy.
CANZPS is excited to welcome Ambassador McGann and Mr. Karlik and looks forward to benefitting from their expertise on the South Pacific.