Maravi

(NEWZIMBABWE) US names new ambassador to Zimbabwe

US names new ambassador to Zimbabwe
by Lebo Nkatazo
26/06/2009 00:00:00

UNITED States President Barack Obama has nominated a retired army major to be the new US Ambassador to Zimbabwe.

Obama said Charles Aaron Ray is a “talented and dedicated individual” and looked forward to working with him “to strengthen our relationships in the global community and our standing in the world”. He replaces fellow African American James McGee who leaves Zimbabwe next week.

Ray’s appointment comes at a watershed moment for Zimbabwe following the first government-to-government talks between the two countries after almost a decade of frosty relations.

Ray, a member of the Foreign Service since 1983, has been the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Prisoners of War/Missing Personnel Affairs and Director of the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office since 2006.

He was responsible to the Secretary of Defence for policy development and oversight of all matters relating to missing personnel.

Ray served in the U.S. Army from 1962 to 1982, retiring with the rank of Major. During his military career, he served at a number of places in the U.S. and abroad, including two tours of duty in Southeast Asia.

Since joining the Foreign Service, he has served in China and Thailand, and was Deputy Chief of Mission in Sierra Leone.

In 1998, he was appointed as the first U.S. Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. In 2002, he was sworn in as the U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia, where he served until 2005.

Ray served as Diplomat in Residence at the University of Houston for the 2005-2006 academic year.

He holds a Bachelors Degree from Benedictine College, a Masters from the University of Southern California, and a Masters in National Security Strategy from the National Defence University.

Labels: AMBASSADOR, BARACK OBAMA, CHARLES AARON RAY, ZIMBABWE

posted by MrK @ 5:14 PM