List of ambassadors of the United States to Benin

Ambassador of the United States to Benin
Ambassadeur des Etats-Unis au Bénin
Seal of the United States Department of State
Incumbent Brian W. Shukan since May 5, 2022
Nominator	The President of the United States
Appointer	The President with Senate advice and consent
Inaugural holder	R. Borden Reams as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Formation	October 14, 1960
Website	U.S. Embassy - Cotonou

The Kingdom of Dahomey was an overseas possession of France—part of French West Africa—until 1958. In that year Dahomey became an autonomous republic, and gained full independence in 1960. The United States immediately recognized Dahomey and began the process of initiating diplomatic relations. A U.S. Embassy at Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire (then named Ivory Coast) was established with Donald L. Norland as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim. The embassy was also accredited also to Dahomey, Niger, and Upper Volta (now named Burkina Faso) while resident at Abidjan. On July 31, 1960, Chargé Norland presented his credentials to the government of Dahomey, to take effect on August 1, 1960. On October 14, 1960, R. Borden Reams was appointed as the ambassador and presented his credentials on November 26, 1960.

On February 15, 1961, the Embassy in Cotonou, Dahomey, was established with Converse Hettinger as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim. Ambassador Reams remained resident in Abidjan.

In 1961 Robinson McIlvaine was appointed as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary with a separate commission solely to Dahomey. He presented his credentials to the government of Dahomey on June 22, 1961.

The Republic of Dahomey changed its name to Republic of Benin in 1975.

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".

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
R. Borden Reams^[1]^[2]^[3] – Career FSO	Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary	October 14, 1960	November 26, 1960	Superseded, July 31, 1961
Robinson McIlvaine – Career FSO		June 22, 1961	July 31, 1961	March 19, 1964
Clinton E. Knox – Career FSO		July 9, 1964	August 18, 1964	June 11, 1969
Matthew J. Looram, Jr. – Career FSO		May 27, 1969	July 21, 1969	December 3, 1971
Robert Anderson^[4] – Career FSO		February 15, 1972	March 25, 1972	April 11, 1974
James B. Engle – Career FSO		July 23, 1974	November 26, 1974	February 15, 1976
W. Kenneth Thompson	Chargé d’Affaires ad interim	-	August 1976	August 1978
John S. Davidson		-	September 1978	May 1980
James R. Bullington		-	June 1980	July 1982
Charles H. Twining, Jr.		-	July 1982	October 1983
George E. Moose – Career FSO	Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary	October 7, 1983	November 4, 1983	July 7, 1986
Walter Edward Stadtler – Career FSO		October 16, 1986	November 19, 1986	December 3, 1989
Harriet Winsar Isom – Career FSO		November 21, 1989	January 26, 1990	November 14, 1992
Ruth A. Davis – Career FSO		August 17, 1992	December 24, 1992	November 3, 1995
John M. Yates – Career FSO		November 3, 1995	November 24, 1995	October 27, 1998
Robert C. Felder – Career FSO		October 22, 1998	November 20, 1998	June 10, 2000
Pamela E. Bridgewater – Career FSO		September 15, 2000	November 24, 2000	December 10, 2002
Wayne E. Neill – Career FSO		April 16, 2003	July 4, 2003	July 22, 2006
Gayleatha B. Brown – Career FSO		July 5, 2006	September 8, 2006	August 22, 2009
James Knight – Career FSO		August 7, 2009 [1]	November 3, 2009	April 28, 2012
Michael A. Raynor – Career FSO		May 5, 2012	September 13, 2012	May 29, 2015
Lucy Tamlyn – Career FSO		October 13, 2015	November 8, 2015	October 19, 2018
Patricia Mahoney – Career FSO		January 7, 2019	July 4, 2019	February 1, 2022
Brian W. Shukan – Career FSO		December 18, 2021	May 5, 2022	Incumbent

Notes

^ Reams was accredited to Ivory Coast, Niger, Upper Volta, and Dahomey—resident at Abidjan
^ Superseded by a separate commission to Dahomey July 31, 1961.
^ Reams was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on February 6, 1961.
^ An earlier nomination of December 2, 1971, was not acted upon by the Senate.