James Costos

James Costos
United States Ambassador to Spain
In office September 24, 2013 – January 20, 2017
President	Barack Obama
Preceded by	Alan Solomont
Succeeded by	Vacant
Personal details
Born	1963 (age 53–54) Lowell, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Domestic partner	Michael Smith
Alma mater	University of Massachusetts Lowell

James Costos (born 1963) is an American diplomat who was the United States Ambassador to Spain and Andorra from 2013 to 2017 and 2014 to 2017, respectively. He was appointed by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the United States Senate on August 1, 2013.

Costos was born in 1963 and grew up in Lowell, Massachusetts. He is a second-generation Greek-American, whose father served as a U.S. Marine and was stationed at Camp David during the Truman administration. He is the first in his family to graduate college. He earned a degree in political science from the University of Massachusetts in 1985.

Costos was a corporate leader and executive in the international retail and international entertainment industries, most notably at HBO and Tod's. His responsibilities included global positioning, external relations, marketing and communications. He is an active supporter of humanitarian organizations, including the Human Rights Campaign and the Santa Monica Museum of Art, and an advocate for cultural institutions and cultural diplomacy. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Humane Society of the United States, the country's largest animal protection organization.

President Obama nominated Costos for the position of U.S. Ambassador to Spain and Principality of Andorra on June 14, 2013. The U.S. Senate voted to confirm the nomination on August 1, 2013, and Costos was sworn in on August 22, 2013. He presented his credentials to the Spanish government in Madrid on September 24, 2013.

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