In an interview with the Orlando Sentinel, the new ambassador of the United States to Luxembourg talks about his new role, his training for the job and his expectations. Mandell, 63, told the Florida paper that his job as CEO of Greater Construction Co. and his new role as ambassador are both about being in what he calls “the relationship business.”

Mandell was confirmed by the Senate last week but has spent almost five months in Washington since his nomination attending a series of training programmes with the State Department to get up to speed on US policy regarding the European Union and NATO and also learning French. “It was very interesting to just kind of start over, at 63 years old, and learn a new language,” he said. “I was there from 9 in the morning to 3:45 every afternoon, five days a week. I had about two hours of homework every night.” It must have paid off, because he addressed his opening remarks to the confirmation hearing at the Senate in French.

He confirmed to the Sentinel that he would present his credentials to Grand Duke Henri on November 16, but also that he was told to expect his first 90 days in the job “to be a bit of a blur.” As ambassador, Mandell says one of his priorities will be to reach out to young people “to make sure that they know me, know the U.S. and know the very strong bilateral relationship we have.” He also wants to see if he can increase the amount of exports from the US to Luxembourg.

Mandell will take over the US diplomatic mission from current Chargé d’Affaires David R. Fetter, who has been in charge since previous ambassador Cynthia Stroum left the post suddenly, amidst controversial circumstances, at the end of January.