He was confirmed by the Senate on February 12, 2016, and presented his credentials to Harald V of Norway on March 10, 2016.[4]
His long-awaited arrival was announced enthusiastically by Foreign MinisterBørge Brende on Twitter,[5] which is unusual for Ambassadorial appointments to Norway.
Before his appointment, Ambassador Heins was most recently a partner in the Heins, Mills and Olson Law Firm in Minneapolis. He earned a B.A. degree from the University of Minnesota in 1968 and a J.D. degree from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1972.[6] His spouse is also a retired lawyer. They have three children. He is the fifth U.S. Ambassador to Norway from Minnesota.