Joseph Cella

Joseph James Cella[2] (/ˈsɛlə/;[3] born November 14, 1969) is an American diplomat and political adviser, who served as the United States Ambassador to Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga and Tuvalu.

Joseph Cella
Official portrait, 2019
16th United States Ambassador to Fiji
In office November 25, 2019 – January 20, 2021
President	Donald Trump
Preceded by	Judith Beth Cefkin
Succeeded by	Tony Greubel (Acting)
13th United States Ambassador to Kiribati
In office November 25, 2019 – January 20, 2021
President	Donald Trump
Preceded by	Judith Beth Cefkin
Succeeded by	Tony Greubel (Acting)
14th United States Ambassador to Nauru
In office November 25, 2019 – January 20, 2021
President	Donald Trump
Preceded by	Judith Beth Cefkin
Succeeded by	Tony Greubel (Acting)
16th United States Ambassador to Tonga
In office November 25, 2019 – January 20, 2021
President	Donald Trump
Preceded by	Judith Beth Cefkin
Succeeded by	Tony Greubel (Acting)
14th United States Ambassador to Tuvalu
In office November 25, 2019 – January 20, 2021
President	Donald Trump
Preceded by	Judith Beth Cefkin
Succeeded by	Tony Greubel (Acting)
Personal details
Born	Joseph James Cella November 14, 1969 Richmond, Michigan, U.S.[1]
Spouse(s)	Kristen Renee
Children	7
Education	Hillsdale College (BA)

Political career

Cella made his start in politics by managing two successful campaigns, and one failed campaign for three Republican Michigan state senators. He then went on to work for Senator Spencer Abraham, as a political regional director in Michigan for five years.[4] Cella next worked as a staff member in the Capitol Hill office of Representative Thaddeus McCotter for two years, before becoming a senior adviser to the House Republican Steering Committee, and the Republican Policy Committee.[5]

During the 2016 United States presidential election he served as lead Catholic advisory council, for then Republican candidate, Donald Trump. Cella was a part of the Trump Transition Team, as well.[2] He was offered a White House position after the transition was over, but he declined. Then after, Trump offered him an ambassadorship of either Malta, Uruguay, Slovenia, or Fiji. He chose Fiji.[4]

But, even though Cella led the Trump Campaign's Catholic advisory council during the 2016 election, Cella has not always supported Trump. He was one of several Catholic leaders to sign onto an open letter in March 2016 opposing his candidacy for the Republican nomination for president. They “called Trump ‘manifestly unfit to be president of the United States,’ citing his “vulgarity,’ his appeals to racial and ethnic fears, and questioning his commitment to ending abortion.” He later went on record saying he had “a sincere change of heart and mind” when Trump said he would appoint anti-abortion judges in the mold of Antonin Scalia.[5]

After being nominated by Trump in February 2019, in September the U.S. Senate voted 56–38 to approve Cella as Ambassador to Fiji, and concurrently as Ambassador to Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu.[6] He was sworn in on November 25, 2019.[2]

Diplomatic career

Ambassador to Fiji

Joseph Cella's first press conference, as Ambassador to Fiji

Joseph Cella was presented his credentials to be the 16th United States Ambassador to Fiji on December 23, 2019, by Jioji Konrote.[7]

He said, his main priorities within his first 30 days was to be a "very active, aggressive bridge builder, and public engager".[8] On January 30 of next year, Cella met with Joseph Lengyel, who at the time, was a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to "emphasize the importance of Fiji’s State Partnership Program with the Nevada National Guard".[9]

Cella helped the Fiji Red Cross Society set up a blood drive. He was their first ever blood donor.[10]

Cella departed Fiji on January 20, 2021, after his resignation. Leaving Tony Greubel as the chargé d’affaires.[11]

COVID-19 pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cella received an additional US$27.7 million, and relief supplies for his ambassadorial countries from the United States Agency for International Development.[12][13]

Cella got Fiji's leading alcohol beverages manufacturer, Paradise Beverages (Fiji) Limited, to donate relief supplies to the Fijian community.[14] General Manager of Paradise Beverages, Mike Spencer, said that "they were fortunate that the U.S. Embassy has come on board and contribute to this because if they did this themselves, they could not do it for long".[14]

Cella had been involved in on the ground charity work, helping the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission, during the pandemic. Cella's embassy had made donations to food banks that helped people, and families impacted by COVID-19.[15]

In May 2020, Cella's Embassy requested grant proposals to try to "support economic resilience" in Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu at the "grassroots level" during the COVID-19 pandemic.[16] The grants were accepted on August 27, 2020.[17]

In July 2020, Cella joined Government of Fiji officials to launch “Health Care on Air". A radio program that attempted to "boost the capacity of health workers to protect themselves, [against COVID–19] and deliver quality health services to communities".[18]

Personal life

Joseph James Cella was born on November 14, 1969, to his father, Robert Cella, and his mother, Janice Jean Cox.[19] He was raised in Richmond, Michigan and graduated from Hillsdale College in 1991.[4][5][20] At Hillsdale, he became apart of the Sigma Chi fraternity.[21] He lives in Augusta Charter Township, Michigan outside of Ann Arbor with his wife Kristen Renee, and their seven children.[22]

Religious work

Cella is a Roman Catholic.[5][22][23] In 2004, he founded the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast along with Rick Santorum, and Leonard Leo, which they created in response to Pope John Paul II's call for a new evangelization.[23] It has featured many notable guest speakers like George W. Bush, John Roberts, Paul Ryan, Raymond Leo Burke, Samuel Alito, and Antonin Scalia.[2]

President George W. Bush (center), Archbishop Charles J. Chaput (left), and Joseph Cella (right) pictured at a National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in 2005

Cella co-founded the Catholic advocacy organization Catholic Vote.[2][23][24] It has grown to over 700,000 members, as of 2019.[2][23]

References

1. Bewig, Matt (February 20, 2018). "U.S. Ambassador to Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu: Who Is Joseph Cella?". AllGov. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
2. "U.S. Department of State - Bio Archive". Archived from the original on July 25, 2020. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
3. "Ambassador Cella's message to Kiribati" on YouTube
4. Cook, Jameson (September 6, 2020). "Cella's choice: Macomb County native selects Fiji to serve as U.S. Ambassador". Macomb Daily. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
5. Burke, Melissa Nann (September 25, 2019). "Senate approves Michigan's Cella to be Fiji ambassador". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on August 24, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
6. "U.S. Congressional Records". Retrieved October 2, 2020.
7. Ravuwai, Ilaijia (December 24, 2019). "New US Ambassador To Fiji, Cella Presents His Credentials". The Fiji Sun. Archived from the original on August 20, 2020.
8. Chaudhary, Felix (December 24, 2019). "US Ambassador Cella loves Fiji". The Fiji Sun. Archived from the original on July 8, 2020.
9. "General Lengyel Visits Suva to Promote State Partnership Program". U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
10. "Cella Donates Blood". Twitter. Archived from the original on July 28, 2020. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
11. https://fj.usembassy.gov/our-relationship/our-ambassador/
12. "U.S.- Donated Ventilators to Boost Kiribati's Fight Against COVID-19". U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on October 6, 2020. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
13. Singh, Shanil (May 14, 2020). "Fiji receives $175,000 worth of relief supplies from the US". FijiVillage. Archived from the original on August 24, 2020. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
14. Naivalurua, Navitalai (May 14, 2020). "Paradise Beverages Limited donates 1,400 litres of Hand sanitizers to Health Ministry". FijiVillage. Archived from the original on July 19, 2020. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
15. "Fijian Competition And Consumer Commission Thanks US Embassy For Donation To Veilomani Food Bank". Archived from the original on April 28, 2020. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
16. "U.S. Embassy Offers Grant Opportunity to Promote Grassroots Economic Recovery". U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on July 18, 2020. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
17. "Beneficiaries Announced for the U.S. Embassy Economic Resilience Grants". U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on September 23, 2020. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
18. "U.S. Government Supports Health Care on Air for Pacific Islands COVID-19 Response". U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on August 20, 2020. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
19. Bewig, Matt (February 20, 2018). "U. S. Ambassador to Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu: Who Is Joseph Cella?". AllGov. Archived from the original on June 27, 2020. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
20. "Hillsdale College Alumnus Nominated As U.S. Ambassador to Fiji". Hillsdale College. Archived from the original on August 24, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
21. http://hillsdalecollegian.com/2020/12/from-sigma-chi-to-suva-fiji-ambassador-joseph-cella/
22. Otzman, Rosemary K. (October 3, 2019). "Augusta resident Joseph Cella approved as ambassador to Fiji". Belleville-Area Independent. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
23. "National Catholic Prayer Breakfast website". Retrieved August 25, 2020.
24. "CatholicVote website". Retrieved October 7, 2020.

External links

• Department of State biography