List of ambassadors of the United States to Eritrea

Ambassador of the United States to Eritrea
Seal of the United States Department of State
Incumbent Leslie Freriksen as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim^[1] since July 18, 2022
Nominator	The President of the United States
Appointer	The President with Senate advice and consent
Inaugural holder	Joseph P. O'Neill as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim
Formation	June 11, 1991
Website	U.S. Embassy - Asmara

The following is a list of United States ambassadors to Eritrea. The United States recognized Eritrea's independence April 27, 1991, and established diplomatic relations on June 11, 1991. The Consulate in Asmara then became an Embassy with Joseph P. O'Neill as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim. The U.S. embassy in Eritrea has been represented by a Chargé d'Affaires since 2010.

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
Robert Gordon Houdek - Career FSO	Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary	November 22, 1993	December 31, 1993	Left post, September 10, 1996
John F. Hicks - Career FSO	Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary	July 2, 1996	September 29, 1996	Left post, May 11, 1997
William Davis Clarke - Career FSO	Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary	June 29, 1998	August 20, 1998	August 12, 2001
Donald J. McConnell - Career FSO	Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary	July 16, 2001	October 3, 2001	Left post, July 16, 2004
Scott H. DeLisi - Career FSO	Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary	May 12, 2004	October 21, 2004	Left post, June 2, 2007
Ronald K. McMullen - Career FSO	Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary	October 29, 2007	N/A	July 19, 2010
Joel Reifman - Career FSO	Chargé d'Affaires ad interim	July 19, 2010	N/A	February 2012
Sue Bremner - Career FSO	Chargé d'Affaires ad interim	July 2012	N/A	April 2014
Louis Mazel - Career FSO	Chargé d'Affaires	July 2014	N/A	July 27, 2016
Natalie E. Brown - Career FSO	Chargé d'Affaires	September 23, 2016	N/A	November 25, 2019
Steven C. Walker - Career FSO^[2]	Chargé d'Affaires	December 12, 2019	N/A	July 17, 2022^[3]
Leslie Freriksen - Career FSO	Chargé d'Affaires	July 18, 2022	N/A	Incumbent

References

^ "Earth Day Celebration". 26 April 2023.
^ "Steven C. Walker". Charge d’Affaires Steven C. Walker. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
^ "Steven C. Walker, the US chief of mission's farewell message to Eritreans". 16 July 2022.

United States Department of State: Background notes on Eritrea
This article incorporates public domain material from U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets. United States Department of State.