List of ambassadors of the United States to Zambia
| Ambassador of the United States to Zambia | |
|---|---|
 Seal of the United States Department of State | |
Incumbent David J. Young Chargé d'Affaires since January 2, 2020 | |
| Nominator | The President of the United States |
| Inaugural holder | Robert C. Good as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary |
| Formation | March 11, 1965 |
| Website | U.S. Embassy - Lusaka  |
The history of Ambassadors of the United States to Zambia began in 1964.
Until 1964 Zambia had been a colony of the British Empire, first as Northern Rhodesia and then as a part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. On December 31, 1963, the federation was dissolved into Rhodesia and Northern Rhodesia. On October 24, 1964, Northern Rhodesia gained full independence as the Republic of Zambia.
The United States immediately recognized the new nation and moved to establish diplomatic relations. An embassy in Lusaka was established on October 24, 1964—independence day for Zambia. Robert C. Foulon was appointed as Chargé d’Affaires ad interim pending the appointment of an ambassador. The first ambassador, Robert C. Good was appointed on March 11, 1965. All U.S. Ambassadors to Zambia have held the official title Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.
The United States embassy in Zambia is located in Lusaka.
The U.S. Ambassador to Zambia serves concurrently as the U.S. Representative to the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).[1]
Ambassadors[]
U.S. diplomatic terms
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 | Appointed | Presented Credentials | Terminated Mission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert C. Good – Political appointee | March 11, 1965 | March 24, 1965 | December 14, 1968 |
| – Career FSO | May 27, 1969 | July 17, 1969 | May 12, 1972 |
| Jean M. Wilkowski – Career FSO | June 27, 1972 | September 26, 1972 | July 24, 1976 |
| Stephen Low – Career FSO | August 5, 1976 | August 31, 1976 | July 5, 1979 |
| Frank George Wisner II – Career FSO | August 2, 1979 | August 28, 1979 | April 19, 1982 |
| Nicholas Platt – Career FSO | July 22, 1982 | August 31, 1982 | December 17, 1984 |
| – Career FSO | July 12, 1985 | July 31, 1985 | August 8, 1988 |
| Jeffrey Davidow – Career FSO | July 11, 1988 | September 1, 1988 | March 31, 1990 |
| – Career FSO | October 22, 1990 | November 21, 1990 | December 27, 1993 |
| – Career FSO | August 9, 1993 | January 14, 1994 | November 10, 1996 |
| Arlene Render – Career FSO | July 2, 1996 | December 20, 1996 | June 30, 1999 |
| David B. Dunn – Career FSO | July 7, 1999 | September 2, 1999 | July 1, 2002 |
| – Career FSO | October 3, 2002 | December 5, 2002 | July 15, 2005 |
| Carmen M. Martinez – Career FSO | November 2, 2005 | December 12, 2005 | July 29, 2008 |
| Donald E. Booth – Career FSO | June 4, 2008 | September 19, 2008 | March 17, 2010 |
| Mark C. Storella – Career FSO | August 20, 2010 | September 21, 2010 | 2013 |
| Eric Schultz – Career FSO | September 18, 2014 | December 12, 2014 | November 20, 2017 |
| Daniel Lewis Foote – Career FSO | November 20, 2017 | December 14, 2017 | January 2, 2020 |
Notes[]
- ^ "Ambassador Mark C. Storella". United States Department of State, U.S. Embassy Lusaka. Retrieved 2011-07-04.
See also[]
- United States - Zambia relations
- Foreign relations of Zambia
- Ambassadors of the United States
References[]
- United States Department of State: Background notes on Zambia
This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Department of State website https://www.state.gov/countries-areas/. (U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets)
This article incorporates External links[]
- Lists of ambassadors of the United States
- Ambassadors of the United States to Zambia
- Lists of ambassadors to Zambia
- 1964 establishments in Zambia
- United States–Zambia relations