In a statement from the White House, Joel Ehrendreich, is a  Nominee for Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Palau.

Joel Ehrenreich (Niger 1985-87)

Mr. Ehrenreich is an American diplomat who has served as the director of the Office of Japanese Affairs at the State Department since 2022. He is the nominee to serve as the United States ambassador to Palau.

On March 21, 2023, his nomination was sent to the Senate. His nomination is pending before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Early in his career, Ehrendreich served in the Peace Corps in Niger from 1985 to 1987. He is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service with the rank of Counselor.

He served as director of Regional and Security Policy in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. Prior to that, he was a senior operations officer in the Bureau of Legislative Affairs, a foreign policy advisor to the Commandant of the Marine Corps, a consul general at the U.S. Consulate General in Okinawa, Japan, an economic counselor at the U.S. embassy in Philippines, and an economic and political counselor at U.S. embassy in Singapore.

Earlier assignments include service at U.S. embassies in New Delhi, Tokyo, Sydney, and the West African nation of Togo. Ehrendreich also served in the White House Situation Room as a senior duty officer. Since 2022, he has served as the director of the Office of Japanese Affairs at the State Department.