Paul A. Folmsbee (born June 3, 1960) is the former
U.S. ambassador to Mali, serving under both the
Obama administration
Barack Obama's tenure as the 44th president of the United States began with his first inauguration on January 20, 2009, and ended on January 20, 2017. A Democrat from Illinois, Obama took office following a decisive victory over Republican ...
and the
Trump administration
Donald Trump's tenure as the List of presidents of the United States, 45th president of the United States began with Inauguration of Donald Trump, his inauguration on January 20, 2017, and ended on January 20, 2021. Trump, a Republican Party ...
.
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
A diplomat (from grc, δίπλωμα; romanized ''diploma'') is a person appointed by a state or an intergovernmental institution such as the United Nations or the European Union to conduct diplomacy with one or more other states or internati ...
who has spent most of his career in the developing world and has served in many conflict zones including
Afghanistan
Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bordere ...
,
Iraq
Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq ...
,
Pakistan
Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
,
Haiti
Haiti (; ht, Ayiti ; French: ), officially the Republic of Haiti (); ) and formerly known as Hayti, is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean Sea, east of Cuba and Jamaica, and ...
and
Mali
Mali (; ), officially the Republic of Mali,, , ff, 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞥆𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 𞤃𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭, Renndaandi Maali, italics=no, ar, جمهورية مالي, Jumhūriyyāt Mālī is a landlocked country in West Africa. 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
Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...
,
Bolivia
, image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg
, flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) with the coat of arms of Bolivia in the center
, flag_alt2 = 7 × 7 square p ...
,
Kenya
)
, national_anthem = "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"()
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, image_map2 =
, capital = Nairobi
, coordinates =
, largest_city = Nairobi
, ...
,
Tanzania
Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It borders Uganda to the north; Kenya to the northeast; Comoro Islands and ...
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 an M.A. in social anthropology from the
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma (OU) is a Public university, public research university in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it had existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two Territories became the state of Oklahom ...
, Norman, Oklahoma. Born in New York, Folmsbee was raised in India and Mexico. He is the recipient of five Department of State
Superior Honor Award
The Superior Honor Award is an award of the United States Department of State. Similar versions of the same award exist for the former U.S. Information Agency, Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, and USAID. It is presented to groups or individ ...
s, five
Meritorious Honor Award
The Meritorious Honor Award is an award of the United States Department of State. Similar versions of the same award exist for the former U.S. Information Agency, Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, and USAID. It is presented to groups or indiv ...
s 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
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Folmsbee, Paul
1960 births
Living people
Ambassadors of the United States to Mali
Tabor College (Kansas) alumni
University of Oklahoma alumni