Ambassador of the United States to Namibia
Seal of the United States Department of State
Incumbent
Randy W. Berry
since February 9, 2023
NominatorThe President of the United States
AppointerThe President
with Senate advice and consent
Inaugural holderGenta H. Holmes
as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
FormationAugust 6, 1990
Websitena.usembassy.gov

The United States ambassador to Namibia is the representative of the government of the United States in Namibia.

The position was created the day Namibia became independent, which was also the day that Namibia-United States relations were established. On that same day, the U.S. Embassy in Windhoek was opened in recognition of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

The U.S. Liaison Office in Windhoek opened February 24, 1984, with William H. Twaddell as Director and closed February 15, 1985. During this time the following officers served as Director: Dennis Whyte Keogh (March–April 1984), Howard Jeter (April–May 1984), and William L. Jacobsen Jr. (May 1984–February 1985). It reopened on June 1, 1989, with Roger A. McGuire as Director. McGuire became chargé d'affaires ad interim when the Liaison Office was elevated to embassy status on March 21, 1990. The first ambassador, Genta H. Holmes was appointed on August 6, 1990. The United States has maintained diplomatic relations with Namibia since that time.

Ambassadors

U.S. diplomatic terms

Career FSO
After 1915, The United States Department of State began classifying ambassadors as career Foreign Service Officers (FSOs) for those who have served in the Foreign Service for a specified amount of time.

Political appointee
A person who is not a career foreign service officer, but is appointed by the president (often as a reward to political friends).

Appointed
The date that the ambassador took the oath of office; also known as "commissioning". It follows confirmation of a presidential appointment by the Senate, or a Congressional recess appointment by the president. In the case of a recess appointment, the ambassador requires subsequent confirmation by the Senate to remain in office.

Presented credentials
The date that the ambassador presented his letter of credence to the head of state or appropriate authority of the receiving nation. At this time the ambassador officially becomes the representative of his country. This would normally occur a short time after the ambassador's arrival on station. The host nation may reject the ambassador by not receiving the ambassador's letter, but this occurs only rarely.

Terminated mission
Usually the date that the ambassador left the country. In some cases a letter of recall is presented, ending the ambassador's commission, either as a means of diplomatic protest or because the diplomat is being reassigned elsewhere and replaced by another envoy.

Chargé d'affaires
The person in charge of the business of the embassy when there is no ambassador commissioned to the host country.

Ad interim
Latin phrase meaning "for the time being", "in the meantime".
Name Title Appointed Presented credentials Terminated mission Notes
Genta H. Holmes – Career FSO Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary August 6, 1990 August 30, 1990 September 6, 1992
Marshall Fletcher McCallie – Career FSO May 25, 1993 July 7, 1993 July 12, 1996
George F. Ward – Career FSO June 11, 1996 August 21, 1996 March 14, 1999
Jeffrey A. Bader – Career FSO August 9, 1999 October 13, 1999 April 6, 2001
Kevin Joseph McGuire – Career FSO October 1, 2001 November 21, 2001 July 16, 2004
Joyce A. Barr – Career FSO July 2, 2004 October 27, 2004 July 31, 2007
Gail D. Mathieu – Career FSO November 15, 2007 November 21, 2007 September 4, 2010
Wanda L. Nesbitt – Career FSO September 24, 2010 November 24, 2010 November 15, 2013
Thomas F. Daughton – Career FSO September 18, 2014 November 26, 2014 December 21, 2017[1]
Lisa A. Johnson – Career FSO November 21, 2017 February 21, 2018 July 2, 2021[2]
Randy W. Berry – Career FSO September 20, 2022 February 9, 2023 Incumbent

See also

References

  1. ^ "Ambassador Thomas F. Daughton". Retrieved 2018-10-12.
  2. ^ "Lisa A. Johnson". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2021-12-13.

External links

Ambassadors of the United States
Categories