Her new assignment is her fourth tour in Central America and the Caribbean , the first having been Panama in 1986-87 early in her career when she was a Political and Economic Officer at the embassy. Later she served in El Salvador during the final years of the civil war there and more recently in Curacao as U.S. Consul General, where she headed a robust interagency counter-narcotics effort, partly in support of Plan Colombia .

In her statement before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, she noted she was struck by the dramatic, positive changes that have taken place over the years [in Panama and the region].  “Instead of wrestling with how to get military dictatorships to give way to democratic government, with the ravages of war, with devastating human rights abuses, we talk instead today about free trade agreements, about ensuring that the fruits of an expanding economy are shared by all citizens, about strengthening institutions vital to democracy, about bolstering our partnership to tackle hemispheric and indeed global problems together, she said.   

Continuing her remarks, she said the Trade Promotion Agreement, if approved by Congress, “directly supports our broader goals for Panama—such as encouraging transparency, and seeking to ensure that all citizens, including the nearly 40 percent who continue to struggle in poverty, benefit from Panama’s impressive economic growth and maturing democratic institutions.” 

Calling Panama a vital crossroads for the movement of people, goods, and ideas, she said Panama is a “third border” for the United States -- given that two-thirds of the 14,000 ships that transit the Panama Canal each year are bound for or coming from U.S. ports,  She told the senators that she recognizes that protecting the canal and Panama’s core infrastructure is critical to the homeland security of the United States. “I would want to underscore here that the Panama Canal Authority, which has been in charge of the Canal since the handover at the end of 1999, has done an impressive job of running it, and we are very pleased to see that U.S. firms are getting a fair shot at work on the ambitious multi-billion dollar Canal expansion project.” 

Continuing her testimony, she said “Our shared history has allowed us to forge an effective and enduring partnership to increase the benefits of Panama ’s unique geography while countering the threats that flow from it. If confirmed, I look forward to leading a strong interagency effort to protect our homeland by helping Panama in its efforts to push back against drug traffickers and other criminals who would exploit Panama ’s growing transportation hub for illegal ends. Close cooperation with Panama in law enforcement and security has already yielded many successes, including increased narcotics seizures, a more effective police force, and enhanced ability to combat money laundering. The Merida Initiative, if approved by Congress, would add considerably to our efforts both in Panama and the region.”  

Stephenson received her bachelor's degree, master's degree, and PhD from the University of Florida .

She and her husband Matthew Furbush -- who served as the American Embassy-Panama Community Liaison Officer during her first Foreign Service assignment he served with her at the six overseas posts she had since then – have a daughter Claire and son Brewster.

Stephenson is the second woman to be appointed U.S. Ambassador to Panama since 1903.  The first was Linda Watt who served in Panama December 2002-June 2005, immediately preceding William Eaton.

Related Links::

Statement for the Record, Barbara J. Stephenson, Ambassador-Designate to Panama Before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, April 16, 2008 at http://foreign.senate.gov/testimony/2008/StephensonTestimony080416p.pdf