List of ambassadors of the United States to Papua New Guinea

Ambassador of the United States to Papua New Guinea
Seal of the United States Department of State
Incumbent Ann M. Yastishock since February 21, 2024
Nominator	The President of the United States
Appointer	The President with Senate advice and consent
Inaugural holder	Mary Olmsted as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
Formation	September 10, 1975
Website	U.S. Embassy - Port Moresby

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".

Diplomatic presence of the United States of America in Papua New Guinea began on September 16, 1975 when the latter became an independent state. The United States Embassy was opened on September 10, 1975 and Mary S. Olmsted became the first U.S. Ambassador to Papua New Guinea on January 5, 1976.^[1] Since establishment of a diplomatic mission in Port Moresby, the United States ambassador to Papua New Guinea has also been accredited to Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.^[2]

The United States Embassy in Papua New Guinea is located in Port Moresby.

Ambassadors

Mary S. Olmsted – Career FSO^[1]
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.
- Appointed: January 5, 1976
- Terminated mission: Left post, July 28, 1979
Harvey J. Feldman – Political Appointee
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.
- Appointed: September 26, 1979
- Terminated mission: Left post, May 25, 1981
M. Virginia Schafer – Career FSO
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.
- Appointed: November 3, 1981
- Terminated mission: Left post, May 20, 1984
Paul Fisher Gardner – Career FSO
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.
- Appointed: September 7, 1984
- Terminated mission: Left post, October 1, 1986
Everett E. Bierman – Political Appointee
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.
- Appointed: November 11, 1986
- Terminated mission: Left post, October 30, 1989
Robert William Farrand – Career FSO
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.
- Appointed: May 1, 1990
- Terminated mission: Left post, September 13, 1993
Richard W. Teare – Career FSO
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.
- Appointed: November 23, 1993
- Terminated mission: Left post, July 14, 1996
Arma Jane Karaer – Career FSO
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.
- Appointed: April 15, 1997
- Terminated mission: Left post, May 28, 2000
Susan S. Jacobs – Career FSO
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.
- Appointed: November 7, 2000
- Terminated mission: Left post, August 1, 2003
Robert W. Fitts – Career FSO
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.
- Appointed: September 11, 2003
- Terminated mission: Left post, September 5, 2006
Leslie V. Rowe – Career FSO
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.
- Appointed: October 15, 2006
- Terminated mission: Left post, July 11, 2009
Teddy B. Taylor – Career FSO^[3]
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.
- Appointed: October 26, 2009
- Terminated mission: October 6, 2012
Walter E. North - Career FSO
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.
- Appointed: January 31, 2013
- Terminated mission: January 22, 2016
Catherine Ebert-Gray - Career FSO
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.
- Appointed: February 23, 2016
- Terminated mission: November 17, 2019
Erin Elizabeth McKee - Career FSO
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.
- Appointed: November 27, 2019
- Terminated mission: April 14, 2022
Ann M. Yastishock - Career FSO
- Appointed: February 21, 2024
- Terminated mission: Incumbent

Notes

^ ^a ^b "US Ambassador to Papua New Guinea. US GOVERNMENT OFFICE". Retrieved February 9, 2011.
^ "U.S. Embassy in Papua New Guinea. About the Embassy. Mission Overview". Retrieved February 9, 2011.
^ "U.S. Embassy in Papua New Guinea". Archived from the original on September 14, 2015. Retrieved February 9, 2011.

References

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