Paul Folmsbee

Paul Folmsbee (born June 3, 1960) is the former U.S. Ambassador to Mali, serving under both the Obama Administration and the Trump Administration.

Paul Folmsbee
20th United States Ambassador to Mali
In office
May 23, 2015 – January 2019
PresidentBarack Obama
Donald Trump
Preceded byMary Beth Leonard
Succeeded byDennis B. Hankins
Personal details
Born
Paul Folmsbee

(1960-06-03) June 3, 1960
New York, United States

Folmsbee was nominated to be Ambassador to the Republic of Mali by President Barack Obama on September 18, 2014 and confirmed by the United States Senate on May 23, 2015.

Career

Folmsbee is an American diplomat who has spent most of his career in the developing world and has served in many conflict zones including Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Haiti and Mali. He has specialised on economic and social development as well as civilian roles in conflict zones. In 2011-12 he served as the Senior Civilian Representative for Regional Command East, Afghanistan (embedded with the 1st Cavalry at Bagram), Consul General, Mumbai, India (2008–2011) during the period of the Mumbai terrorist attacks, and in 2007-8 as the Provincial Reconstruction Team Leader for Sadr City and Adhamiya, Iraq where he negotiated with representatives of Moqtada al Sadr while embedded with the US Army's 2/82 Airborne. He also served as the Embassy Director of counter narcotics and law enforcement programs in Pakistan (2006-7) and in Port-au-Prince, Haiti during a period a major unrest (2003-6) as well as earlier assignments in Sri Lanka, Bolivia, Kenya, Tanzania and Washington.

In Mali Ambassador Folmsbee has been critical of the signatories to the 2015 Algiers Accord, including the armed groups and the Government of Mali, and the failure by all to implement provisions of the accord. He has issued a number of statements calling for all sides to abide by the terms of a cease fire (ref: EMB Bamako Release 4/22/16; EMB Bamako Release 9/22/16) and to immediately conduct joint patrols, appoint interim authorities in the north and operationalize the joint security command centers.

Folmsbee earned a B.A. in Political Science from Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kansas and a M.A. in Social Anthropology from the University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma. Born in New York, Folmsbee was raised in India and Mexico. He is the recipient of five Department of State Superior Honor Awards, five Meritorious Honor Awards and a medal from the Polish Government for service in Afghanistan working with Polish troops. He is married to Angelika Chin who is from Jamaica. They have four grown children between them.

References

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]

  1. "Mali - Chiefs of Mission - People - Department History - Office of the Historian". History.state.gov. Retrieved 2017-05-24.
  2. "Ambassador Paul A. Folmsbee | U.S. Embassy in Mali". Ml.usembassy.gov. Retrieved 2017-05-24.
  3. "Ambassador Folmsbee Launches USDA Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program | U.S. Embassy in Mali". Ml.usembassy.gov. 2016-09-21. Retrieved 2017-05-24.
  4. "" L'ambassadeur des USA demande à l'Etat malien de prendre ses responsabilités " - Studio Tamani : Toutes les voix du Mali : articles, journaux et débats en podcast". Studio Tamani. Retrieved 2017-05-24.
  5. "Mali : sortie de l'ambassadeur américain - BBC Afrique". Bbc.com. Retrieved 2017-05-24.
  6. "Mali: Who wants the U.S. Ambassador Paul Folmsbee? - MALI'S NEWS". Malisnews.com. 2016-10-03. Retrieved 2017-05-24.
  7. "American Survivor of Mali Hotel Attack: 'I Just Knew I Was Dead' - ABC News". Abcnews.go.com. 2015-11-21. Retrieved 2017-05-24.
  8. "His Excellency Paul A. Folmsbee". Washdiplomat.com. Retrieved 2017-05-24.
  9. "Hearing | Hearings | United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations". Foreign.senate.gov. 2015-03-25. Retrieved 2017-05-24.
  10. "Folmsbee, Paul A". State.gov. Retrieved 2017-05-24.
  11. "U.S. Senate: nominations confirmed (civilian)". Senate.gov. Retrieved 2017-05-24.
  12. "Testimony of Paul A. Folmsbee Nominee for U.S. Ambassador to Mali" (PDF). Senate Foreign Relations Committee. March 25, 2015. Retrieved 2017-05-24.
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