WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Senate on Tuesday confirmed Erie County native Darrell Owens to become the U.S. representative to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), with the rank of ambassador.
Owens received bipartisan support in a 67-30 vote.
The Waterford, Pa. native currently serves as Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Department of Veterans Affairs. He was sworn into his current role in February 2025.
Owens, a graduate of the Air Force Air Command and Staff College and the U.S. Army War College, is also a U.S. Army Reserve officer. He spent nearly 14 years on Capitol Hill as a national security adviser to former Republican Sen. Pat Toomey and also worked for Rep. Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson, R-Pa.
Local lawmakers, including Thompson, were quick to praise his Senate confirmation.
“I am really proud of Ambassador Darrell Owens, a Pennsylvania native and former military legislative assistant to my office. I know he will make the United States equally proud serving overseas,” Thompson said.
“Darrell Owens has spent his career serving the American people. I am pleased to see his confirmation process advance in the U.S. Senate,” said Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa.