List of ambassadors of the United States to Sierra Leone

Ambassador of the United States to Sierra Leone
Seal of the United States Department of State
Incumbent Bryan David Hunt since September 11, 2023^[1]
Nominator	The President of the United States
Inaugural holder	Herbert Reiner as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim
Formation	April 27, 1961
Website	U.S. Embassy - Freetown

The United States ambassador to Sierra Leone is the official representative of the government of the United States to the government of Sierra Leone.

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
Herbert Reiner – Career FSO	Chargé d'Affaires ad interim	April 27, 1961	N/A	1961
A. S. J. Carnahan – Political appointee	Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary	May 11, 1961	June 9, 1961	July 13, 1963
Andrew V. Corry - Career FSO		January 29, 1964	February 25, 1964	May 19, 1967
Robert Graham Miner - Career FSO		November 7, 1967	December 7, 1967	June 16, 1971
Clinton Louis Olson - Career FSO		June 27, 1972	July 4, 1972	November 11, 1974
Michael Anthony Samuels - Political appointee		December 20, 1974	February 14, 1975	May 25, 1977
John Andrew Linehan - Career FSO		June 24, 1977	August 30, 1977	May 9, 1980
Theresa Ann Healy - Career FSO		August 27, 1980	September 18, 1980	July 13, 1983
Arthur Winston Lewis - Career FSO		May 17, 1983	August 17, 1983	June 5, 1986
Cynthia Shepard Perry - Political appointee		June 16, 1986	July 16, 1986	August 30, 1989
Johnny Young – Career FSO		October 10, 1989	November 29, 1989	July 23, 1992
Lauralee M. Peters - Career FSO		June 15, 1992	October 8, 1992	July 6, 1995
John Lewis Hirsch - Career FSO		August 14, 1995	September 13, 1995	June 17, 1998
Joseph Melrose - Career FSO		October 22, 1998	November 20, 1998	September 10, 2001
Peter R. Chaveas - Career FSO		July 12, 2001	October 12, 2001	May 24, 2004
Thomas Neil Hull - Career FSO		May 12, 2004	August 19, 2004	August 27, 2007
June Carter Perry - Career FSO		July 7, 2007	October 8, 2007	January 2, 2009
Michael S. Owen – Career FSO		August 9, 2010	September 30, 2010	October 2, 2013
John Hoover - Career FSO		September 12, 2014	December 4, 2014	July 2, 2017
Maria Brewer - Career FSO		August 3, 2017	October 5, 2017	February 22, 2021
David Dale Reimer - Career FSO		December 22, 2020	March 24, 2021	August 24, 2023
Bryan David Hunt - Career FSO		July 27, 2023	September 11, 2023	Incumbent

References

^ https://sl.usembassy.gov/ambassador-bryan-hunt-has-presented-his-credentials-today-to-the-government-of-sierra-leone/

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