Consul General of the United States (Tijuana)

Lance Hegerle assumed the duties of Consul General at the U.S. Consulate General in Tijuana August 3, 2026. Consul General Hegerle will lead the diplomatic mission for the next three years, with jurisdiction over the states of Baja California and Baja California Sur. 

A career diplomat with the U.S. Department of State with 27 years of experience, Hegerle most recently served as Director for Narcotics Affairs and Law Enforcement (INL) at the U.S. Embassy in Colombia, where he previously served as deputy director. 

Throughout his distinguished career, he has held various high-level positions within the Department of State. He previously served as the Deputy Director of the Office of Central American Affairs, Political Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Managua, and Political and Economic Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Montevideo. He has also served as Chief of the Political Section in the Office of Cuban Affairs, Political Advisor (POLAD) to U.S. Southern Command, Director of INL at the U.S. Embassy in Panama, Political-Military Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala, Political Security Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires, and U.S. Representative to the Spanish-led Provincial Reconstruction Team in Badghis, Afghanistan. His first assignment with the Department of State was as a Consular Officer in Lagos, Nigeria.  

A native of Escondido, California, Mr. Hegerle is familiar with the dynamics of the Tijuana-San Diego border region. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in international relations from San Diego State University (SDSU), as well as a master’s degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Air War College. He is joined in this new assignment by his wife, Florencia, and their three daughters.