Brandon Hudspeth

Brandon Hudspeth is an accomplished American diplomat and career member of the United States Senior Foreign Service with over two decades of experience in international relations, diplomacy, economic policy and security cooperation. He currently serves as the Consul General of the United States of America in Lagos, Nigeria, where he represents the United States Government across the 17 states of southern Nigeria. He assumed office in August 2026, succeeding Rick Swart, who retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in July 2026.
His diplomatic career spans several regions, including Africa, Asia and Latin America, with extensive experience in political and economic affairs, international security, law enforcement cooperation and diplomatic engagement. Before his appointment as Consul General in Lagos, Mr. Hudspeth served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the United States Embassy in Windhoek, Namibia, where he contributed to the management of diplomatic operations and the advancement of bilateral relations between the United States and Namibia.
Mr. Hudspeth previously served as Director of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement at the United States Embassy in the Philippines. In this capacity, he led U.S. civilian assistance programmes supporting law enforcement, the rule of law, counter-narcotics initiatives and maritime security cooperation. His other international assignments include serving as Political-Economic Section Chief at the U.S. Embassy in Bamako, Mali; Nonimmigrant Visa Chief at the U.S. Embassy in Havana, Cuba; and Political-Military Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan.
He has also held several strategic positions at the United States Department of State in Washington, D.C., including assignments at the Department's Operations Center, the Secretariat Staff supporting the Secretary of State and the Bureau of African Affairs, where he served as a Desk Officer. These responsibilities provided him with considerable experience in foreign policy coordination, diplomatic operations and international engagement.
His appointment as Consul General in Lagos marks his second diplomatic posting to Nigeria, having previously served as Political-Economic Section Chief at the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos from 2020 to 2022. During that assignment, he gained direct experience of Nigeria's political and economic environment and the opportunities for strengthening cooperation between both countries.
As Consul General, Mr. Hudspeth is focused on strengthening the longstanding partnership between the United States and Nigeria, particularly in trade, investment, technological innovation and the creative industries. His priorities include expanding commercial opportunities, supporting cooperation between American and Nigerian businesses, and fostering partnerships that contribute to economic growth and shared prosperity.
Brandon Hudspeth brings extensive diplomatic experience and a strong understanding of international economic and security relations to his leadership of the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos. He remains committed to advancing U.S.–Nigeria relations, strengthening institutional cooperation and promoting opportunities for sustainable economic development, innovation and mutually beneficial partnerships.