Ronald E. Neumann
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Ronald E. Neumann (b. 1945) is the current United States Ambassador to Afghanistan and previously served as ambassador to Algeria (1994-1997), and Bahrain (2001–2004). He is the son of former ambassador Robert G. Neumann and traveled extensively after college in Afghanistan while his father was ambassador there. He pronounces his last name Newmann (without the Germanic neu) and his name is sometimes seen spelled that way.
Mr. Neumann joined the United States Department of State as a Foreign Service Officer in 1970. After an initial posting in Senegal, he began to specialize in the Middle East, particularly in the Persian Gulf, beginning in 1973 when he served in Tabriz, Iran. He also served in the United Arab Emirates and in 1991 as Director of the Iran Iraq office (Director of Northern Gulf Affairs) he was involved in overseeing Kurdish refugees in the Middle East.
In 1994 he was made Ambassador to Algeria, in part because of his Middle East experience, and served in that capacity for three years. He subsequently was made Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs.
In 2000, he was selected to become ambassador to Bahrain, but the Senate did not confirm him immediately and during the delay he was found to be involved in a minor security scandal involving the mishandling of classified materials. He was ultimately cleared of wrongdoing and newly-elected President George W. Bush approved his appointment in 2001.
He was ambassador to Bahrain when the embassy there was closed temporarily due to attacks in April 2002 from pro-Palestinian protestors. No one was hurt in the protest although buildings were damaged and vehicles were set on fire.
In 2004, he left Bahrain to serve as a United States political advisor in Iraq and served in that position until he was made ambassador to Afghanistan in 2005.
He speaks Arabic, French, and some Persian.
[edit] Trivia
- On becoming Ambassador to Afghanistan in 2005, Ronald Neumann became the first diplomat since the establishment of the modern State Department to have served as ambassador to the same country as his father. President John Adams and his son President John Quincy Adams were both ministers to Great Britain.
| Preceded by Mary Ann Casey |
United States Ambassador to Algeria 1994–1997 |
Succeeded by Cameron R. Hume |
| Preceded by Johnny Young |
United States Ambassador to Bahrain 2001–2004 |
Succeeded by William T. Monroe |
| Preceded by Zalmay Khalilzad |
United States Ambassador to Afghanistan 2005–present |
Succeeded by — |
[edit] References
- "U.S. works behind scenes to ease tension in Algeria", The Ottawa Citizen, (April 23, 1994)
- "Diplomatic Exit Some Way Off, Says Young", Gulf Daily News, (February 27, 2000)
- "US Envot to Stay Till Summer", Gulf Daily News, (September 7, 2000)
- "Envoy's Nomination Hits a Security Snag", Gulf Daily News, (September 29, 2000)
- "Embassy Row", The Washington Times, (July 24, 2001)
- "U.S. Embassy in Bahrain Remains Closed", Gulf Daily News, (April 7, 2002)
- "Bahrain: King Reviews US Ties with Outgoing Ambassador", Global News Wire, (June 1, 2004)
