Updated

Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley has presented her credentials as U.S. ambassador to Malta, filling a post vacant for more than a year following the resignation of her controversial predecessor.

Douglas Kmiec resigned in April 2011 following the publication of a report by the U.S. State Department's Office of Inspector General that claimed the ambassador had been spending too much time writing and speaking about his Catholic faith.

Abercrombie-Winstanley, a career diplomat, has previously served as political officer at the embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel; consul in Baghdad; and had postings in Jakarta, Indonesia, and Cairo. She presented her credentials to Malta's president on Wednesday.