John Groarke

Mission Director

Mr. John Groarke is USAID/Southern Africa Mission Director with responsibility for all USAID programming in South Africa and for regional programs in Southern Africa, a region with some of the highest levels of income inequality and HIV/AIDS prevalence in the world.  USAID’s programs in the region promote trade and investment, combat gender-based violence, increase basic literacy, improve access to energy, combat wildlife crime, and support governments in fighting the dual epidemics of HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis.

As USAID/Pakistan Mission Director (2015-2017), Mr. Groarke led one of the Agency’s largest overseas missions, with an assistance portfolio valued at more than $2.4 billion, featuring initiatives promoting security, stability and prosperity. 

From 2013-2015, Mr. Groarke served as Mission Director for USAID/Haiti, leading a $2.2 billion program supporting Haiti’s recovery from a devastating earthquake. As Mission Director for USAID/Morocco between 2009 and 2013, Mr. Groarke led a program supporting the Government of Morocco's political and economic reform during a time of regional transition.

In 2010, Mr. Groarke was detailed to Afghanistan to lead USAID’s efforts to implement a new U.S. Government counter-insurgency strategy by establishing regional satellite missions throughout the country.  He previously served as Deputy Mission Director in Egypt (2006-2009), and in Iraq (2005-2006).  Mr. Groarke served as Senior Regional Legal Adviser for Egypt and Iraq (2002-2005), Senior Regional Legal Adviser for West Africa (1999-2002) and Regional Legal Adviser for South Asia (1996-1999).

A member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Career Minister, Mr. Groarke received USAID’s Distinguished Honor Award in 2009, the Agency’s highest performance award, for his service in Egypt and Iraq.  In 2015 he received the Agency’s Superior Honor Award for his service in Haiti.  

Prior to joining USAID in 1995, Mr. Groarke practiced corporate law in New York and Washington, D.C., and taught international law in London. He holds a Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, a Master’s Degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics, and a Bachelor’s Degree from New York University. 

Alonzo Wind

Deputy Mission Director

Alonzo Wind joined USAID/Southern Africa as Deputy Mission Director in December 2014, and is currently focusing on the Regional portfolios.

Prior to serving in South Africa, Alonzo served as USAID’s Deputy Mission Director in Iraq from October 2013 to November 2014.  He was promoted to the Senior Foreign Service in 2011.

From September 2011 to October 2013 he served in the Africa Bureau as Regional Advisor and then Acting Office Director for Southern Africa Affairs. He held previous special assignments and duties in Iraq and Afghanistan, including serving as the Senior USAID Representative on two Provincial Reconstruction Teams, prior to which Mr. Wind served ten years overseas as the Supervisory General Development Officer with USAID missions in Nigeria, Angola and Nicaragua, focusing on health, HIV/AIDS, education, governance, and social sector reform.

Prior to joining USAID as a career Foreign Service officer in 1999, Mr. Wind spent about 19 years mostly in developing countries overseas, working with private contractors and nonprofit development organizations, including a stint in London as the Global Programme Coordinator of the International Save the Children Alliance. His vocation overseas for international development started with his service as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ecuador (1980-82).

Mr. Wind studied at the University of Chicago and has a Bachelor’s in Political Science and a Master’s of Science in Public Health Management.  He was an aspiring science fiction writer from his days at Stuyvesant High School in New York City, which he says was a great preparation for government work.

Rebecca Krzywda

Deputy Mission Director

Rebecca O. Krzywda joined USAID/Southern Africa as Deputy Mission Director (Bilateral) in August 2016. 

Prior to arriving in Pretoria, Ms. Krzywda served as the Controller in USAID/Pakistan from 20015 to 2016, and was the Controller of USAID/Serbia from 2011 to 2015.  

Since joining USAID as a Foreign Service officer in 1999, Ms. Krzywda has worked in USAID missions in the Philippines, Nigeria, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Serbia and Pakistan. 

Ms. Krzywda received a Bachelor's degree in Business and a Masters' degree in Accounting from the George Washington University Arts in Washington, DC and is a CPA.