Carlos Vecchio served as the Venezuelan Ambassador to the U.S. from 2019 to 2023, appointed by interim president Juan Guaidó. A distinguished academic, Vecchio earned degrees in Tax Law from the Central University of Venezuela, a Master's in Public Administration from Harvard University, a Law degree from Georgetown University as a Fulbright Scholar, and participated in Yale University's Maurice R. Greenberg World Fellow Program. In exile due to the Maduro regime, Vecchio became a leading international advocate for restoring democracy in Venezuela, focusing on exposing the country's humanitarian crisis and human rights violations. He played a pivotal role in garnering global support for the Venezuelan cause. Vecchio co-founded the Voluntad Popular political party with Juan Guaidó and Leopoldo López, serving as its National Political Coordinator since 2010. His political career includes candidacies for Mayor of Chacao in 2008 and the Venezuelan National Assembly in 2010. He also established "Ciudadanía Activa" in 2002 to promote civil, human, and political rights, and uphold democratic values in Venezuela. As ambassador, Vecchio significantly contributed to making Venezuela's humanitarian and freedom struggle a bipartisan issue in the U.S., achieving tangible progress against the regime and moving towards ending the dictatorship in Venezuela.