President Donald Trump made a wise choice in tapping Kentucky’s Kelly Craft as his new nominee for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. She has big shoes to fill by following former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, but Craft is more than capable of representing America on the world stage. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who recommended Craft to Trump, noted that Haley “had zero” foreign policy experience before becoming UN ambassador and that Haley “did a fine job” nonetheless.

In fact, this is Craft’s third diplomatic post and her second stint at the UN, after President George W. Bush named her a public delegate to the UN General Assembly in 2007. I was involved in Craft’s appointment during my White House tenure, and she earned a reputation as being well-prepared and a tireless public servant.

While serving in New York last time, Craft dealt with American efforts to combat malaria and AIDS on the African continent, a portfolio that remains a jewel in Bush’s foreign policy achievements. For those who strongly believe in the value of American engagement in the world, Craft’s speech about Bush’s work to relieve human suffering is fondly recalled:

“Our commitment will not falter, and we stand ready to work with our partners to meet these global challenges and realize Africa’s promise,” Craft said to the UN. Indeed, Bush’s efforts saved millions of lives.

Craft’s most recent posting in Ottawa as the American ambassador has been anything but sleepy, and she had a key role in renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement. Reuters reported that Craft “was seen as a tough negotiator in a new U.S. trade deal with Canada and Mexico and … established decent working relationships with both Republicans and Democrats in Congress.”

Frank McKenna, former Canadian ambassador to the U.S., told the Lexington Herald-Leader that Craft “really proved herself over some tough times.” He added: “In many ways, being ambassador to Canada under President Trump is (a) good training ground for the UN.”

Several Kentuckians have achieved high diplomatic office, including at least three ambassadors to the Court of St. James (Great Britain). Louisville’s Matthew Barzun, after serving as ambassador to Sweden, went to London during the Obama years, as did William Farish, owner of Lane’s End thoroughbred farm in Versailles, during Bush 43’s first term. In 1933, Franklin Roosevelt sent Robert Worth Bingham to represent America in what is arguably the most important single-nation ambassadorship for any president.

In the mid-20th century, former Kentucky Sen. John Sherman Cooper was pressed into diplomatic service on four occasions by presidents of both parties – delegate to the UN (Truman; 1949-51), ambassador to India and Nepal (Eisenhower; 1955-56), ambassador to East Germany (Ford; 1974-76), and a return engagement as delegate to the UN (Reagan; 1981). Bush 43, John F. Kennedy, Jimmy Carter and Abraham Lincoln tapped other Kentuckians for diplomatic posts as well.

But Craft’s new job means she will surpass them all. Her rural roots – she grew up in Glasgow – make her a perfect choice for Trump, whose presidency is rooted in places like Barren County, where voters rejected politics as usual in 2016. Her nomination marks another successful recommendation from McConnell, whose yeomen’s work on shepherding presidential appointments will be remembered as one of the most successful aspects of the Trump-McConnell era.

Criticisms lobbed at Craft by her detractors – the folks who can’t stand it when Trump nominates a qualified woman or person of color to a key post – will drain like water off a duck’s back. I’ve never been around Craft when she wasn’t smiling, pleasant and deadly serious about whatever job she had at the time. She’s equal parts happy and warrior when it comes to her conservative values.

Before heading to Canada, Craft had become Kentucky’s pre-eminent Republican fundraiser, the person every candidate wanted to lead their efforts in the Bluegrass. Now, she is the state’s best-known diplomat since Henry Clay served as secretary of state under President John Quincy Adams.

Out for a run over the weekend, the multitasking Craft called to chat for a few minutes. She’s excited and ready for what she knows will be her greatest challenge and ever mindful of her roots.

“I couldn’t be prouder to represent Kentucky and all of America on behalf of President Donald Trump, if confirmed by the United States Senate,” she told me. “And I’m grateful for the folks praying and pulling for me back home.”