Thomas L. Vajda is new US Consul-General in Mumbai

A career diplomat Thomas L. Vajda took charge Thursday as the new US Consul-General in Mumbai, an official said here.

He took over from Peter Haas, who completed his tenure in Mumbai as the US Consul-General.

Vajda, with a rich experience of 23 years experience in the US Foreign Service, was the US State Department's Deputy Coordinator for Assistance to the Middle East, immediately prior to his Mumbai assignment.

Vajda supported all efforts to coordinate US assistance to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in response to the Arab Spring and subsequent major developments in the region.

Earlier, he has also served as director, Middle East Partnership Initiative, a foreign assistance program supporting political and economic reforms in the MENA region.

"I have arrived in Mumbai during an exciting time. My team and I will build upon progress in the US-India relationship and advance the goals our governments articulate at the Strategic Dialogue," Vajda said of his new responsibility.

On a personal note, Vajda said he and his family - wife Amy Sebes and their two daughters - look forward to exploring western India.

During his diplomatic career, Vajda has servced as deputy chief of mission at the US embassy in Myanmar, and postings in the Balkans, Germany and South Korea.

In Washington, he worked in the areas of East Asian and Pacific Affiars, weapons removal and abatement, and human resources.

Vajda is a graduate of the Stanford University and later did his Master's from the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy.