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
- ^ "Ambassador Thomas F. Daughton". Retrieved 2018-10-12.
- ^ "Lisa A. Johnson". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
- United States Department of State: Background notes on Namibia
This article incorporates public domain material from U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets. United States Department of State.
