List of ambassadors of the United States to the Solomon Islands

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".

The United States of America opened an embassy in Honiara, Solomon Islands from July 7 1978 following recognition of the independent Solomon Islands by the United States, but this closed in 1993, reopening on 2 February 2023.^[1] During the ten year closure, U.S. interests in Solomon Islands were handled by the United States Embassy in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, the United States Ambassador to Papua New Guinea being also accredited to Solomon Islands.^[2]^[3]

Ambassadors


Name	Title	Appointed	Terminated Mission	Notes
Mary S. Olmsted – Career FSO^[2]	Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary	January 5, 1976	July 28, 1979
Harvey J. Feldman – Career FSO		September 26, 1979	May 25, 1981
M. Virginia Schafer – Career FSO		November 3, 1981	May 20, 1984
Paul Fisher Gardner – Career FSO		September 7, 1984	October 1, 1986
Everett E. Bierman – Career FSO		November 11, 1986	October 30, 1989
Robert William Farrand – Career FSO		May 1, 1990	September 13, 1993
Richard W. Teare – Career FSO		November 23, 1993	July 14, 1996
Arma Jane Karaer – Career FSO		April 15, 1997	May 28, 2000
Susan S. Jacobs – Career FSO		November 7, 2000	August 1, 2003
Robert W. Fitts – Career FSO		September 11, 2003	September 5, 2006
Leslie V. Rowe – Career FSO		November 15, 2006	July 11, 2009
Teddy B. Taylor – Career FSO^[4]		November 16, 2009	October 6, 2012
Walter E. North – Career FSO		January 31, 2013	January 26, 2016
Catherine Ebert-Gray – Career FSO		April 14, 2016	November 17, 2019
Erin Elizabeth McKee – Career FSO		January 27, 2020	April 14, 2022
Russell Comeau - Career FSO	Chargé d'Affaires ad interim	February 2, 2023	March 14, 2024	US Embassy reopened on February 2, 2023
Ann M. Yastishock - Career FSO	Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary	March 14, 2024	Incumbent

Notes

^ "U.S. opens embassy in Solomon Islands in bid to counter China". NBC News. February 2, 2023. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
^ ^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 the Solomon Islands
This article incorporates public domain material from U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets. United States Department of State.