Matthew H. Tueller

Matthew H. Tueller (born 1957)[2] is an American diplomat serving as the United States Ambassador to Iraq.[3] A career United States Foreign Service officer, he previously served as the United States Ambassador to Kuwait and Yemen.

Matthew H. Tueller
United States Ambassador to Iraq
Incumbent
Assumed office June 9, 2019
President	Donald Trump Joe Biden
Preceded by	Joey R. Hood (Chargé d'Affaires)
United States Ambassador to Yemen
In office May 8, 2014 – May 16, 2019
President	Barack Obama Donald Trump
Preceded by	Gerald Feierstein
Succeeded by	Christopher P. Henzel
United States Ambassador to Kuwait
In office September 28, 2011 – April 28, 2014
President	Barack Obama
Preceded by	Deborah Jones
Succeeded by	Michael Adler
Personal details
Born	Matthew Heywood Tueller[1] 1957 (age 63–64) Utah, U.S.
Spouse(s)	DeNeece Gurney
Children	5
Education	Brigham Young University (BA) Harvard University (MPP)

Early life and education

Tueller was born in Utah.[4] His father, Blaine Carlson Tueller, was Foreign Service officer, and as a result, Tueller grew up in Europe, North Africa, and Latin America, including four years in Tangier, Morocco where he learned Arabic.[5]

Tueller earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brigham Young University and a Master of Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School.

Career

Early career

Matthew Tueller is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service and his other overseas assignments have included Deputy Chief of Mission at Embassy Cairo; Political Minister Counselor at Embassy Baghdad; Deputy Chief of Mission at Embassy Kuwait; Political Counselor at Embassy Riyadh; Chief of the U.S. Office in Aden, Yemen; Deputy Chief of Mission at Embassy Doha; Political Officer at Embassy London; and Political Officer and Consular Officer at Embassy Amman. His Washington assignments have included Deputy Director in the Office of Northern Gulf Affairs and Egypt Desk Officer.

Ambassador To Kuwait

Matthew H. Tueller arrived in Kuwait on September 23, 2011. He was nominated as the U.S. Ambassador to Kuwait by President Barack Obama on May 4, 2011. His nomination was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on June 30, 2011, and he was sworn in by Deputy Secretary of State William J. Burns on September 8.[6][7]

Ambassador To Yemen

Tueller was the United States Ambassador to Yemen from 2014 to 2019.

He has been involved in negotiations between Yemen's Houthi forces and partners of the Saudi-led coalition during the course of the present civil war. His impartiality has been questioned by both Houthi negotiators and others within the State Department, leading to criticism over the United States' role in the prolonged state of the conflict and the resulting humanitarian crisis.[8]

Ambassador To Iraq

On November 7, 2018, the White House announced the president's intent to nominate Ambassador Matthew H. Tueller to be the next United States Ambassador to Iraq.[9] On May 16, 2019, the United States Senate confirmed the nomination of Matthew Tueller to be United States Ambassador to the Republic of Iraq.[10][11][12]

Personal life

Tueller is married to DeNeece Gurney and has five children.[13] He is an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, having served a two-year mission in Spain.

References

1. "PN1009-1 — Foreign Service". U.S. Congress. December 24, 2009. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
2. "Matthew Haywood Tueller - People - Department History - Office of the Historian". history.state.gov. Retrieved 2019-08-14.
3. "President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Individuals to Key Administration Posts". The White House. November 7, 2018. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
4. "U.S. Ambassador to Yemen: Who Is Matthew Tueller?". AllGov. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
5. "U.S. Ambassador to Yemen: Who Is Matthew Tueller?". April 25, 2015. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
6. Federal Regional Yellow Book: Who's who in the Federal Government's Departments, Agencies, Courts, Military Installations, and Service Academies Outside of Washington, DC. Monitor Publishing Company. 2000. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
7. United States Department of State
8. The U.S. Ambassador To Yemen's Hard-line Approach Is Jamming Up Peace Efforts, The Intercept, December 13, 2017
9. Career Diplomat Matthew Tueller to be U.S. Ambassador to Iraq
10. U.S. Senate Confirms Matthew Tueller as U.S. Ambassador to Iraq
11. Senate confirms Matt Tueller as US ambassador to Iraq
12. U.S. Mission Iraq Gets a New Ambassador After Mandatory Evacuation of Non-Emergency Personnel
13. “Ambassador Matthew H. Tueller,” Department of State

External links

• "Senior Officials' Biographies: Matthew H. Tueller", State.gov, United States Department of State
• "BYU grad tapped to be ambassador to Kuwait", The Salt Lake Tribune, May 9, 2011
• Matthew H. Tueller congratulates the people of Kuwait
• Appearances on C-SPAN