Robert Stuart Gilchrist (born 1964) 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 served as the assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights, and labor since September 2023. He served as the

United States ambassador to Lithuania This is a list of ambassadors of the United States to Lithuania. The United States first established diplomatic relations with the Baltic states (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia) in 1922. One ambassador, resident in Riga, Latvia, was appointed to al ...

from February 2020 to August 2023. He is a career

Foreign Service Officer A Foreign Service Officer (FSO) is a commissioned member of the United States Foreign Service. Foreign Service Officers formulate and implement the foreign policy of the United States. FSOs spend most of their careers overseas as members of U ...

with the rank of minister counselor. He was appointed by President Donald Trump and confirmed by the United States Senate on December 20, 2019. Gilchrist was the fifth US ambassador from the LGBT community nominated to serve by the Trump administration.

Early life and education

Gilchrist earned a Bachelor of Arts from Wake Forest University and a Master of Arts from the University of Virginia."President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Personnel to Key Administration Posts" White House, July 22, 2019

Career

Gilchrist was director of the United States Department of State Operations Center, deputy chief of mission of the United States embassy in Sweden, deputy chief of mission of the United States embassy in Estonia, and the director of Nordic and Baltic Affairs in the State Department's Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs. Among his earlier assignments, he was deputy political counselor at the

United States embassy in Iraq The Embassy of the United States of America in Baghdad is the diplomatic mission of the United States of America in the Republic of Iraq. Ambassador Alina Romanowski is currently the Chief of Mission. At , it is the largest embassy in the wo ...

, chief of the political section of the United States embassy in Romania, and a special assistant in the Office of the deputy secretary of state.

United States ambassador to Lithuania

On July 22, 2019, President Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate Gilchrist to be the United States ambassador to Lithuania. His nomination was sent to the Senate on August 1, 2019. Russian hostility was a central topic during his confirmation hearings. On December 19, 2019, his nomination was confirmed in the Senate by voice vote. Gilchrist was the fifth LGBT ambassador confirmed under the Trump administration. He presented his credentials to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda on February 4, 2020. He left office in August 12, 2023.

U.S. State Department

Since September 2023, Gilchrist has served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.

Personal life

Gilchrist speaks Spanish,

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

Estonian Estonian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Estonia, a country in the Baltic region in northern Europe * Estonians, people from Estonia, or of Estonian descent * Estonian language * Estonian cuisine * Estonian culture See also

...

, and Romanian.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gilchrist, Robert S. 1964 births Living people 21st-century American diplomats Ambassadors of the United States to Lithuania Gay diplomats American gay men LGBT ambassadors of the United States United States Assistant Secretaries of State United States Foreign Service personnel University of Virginia alumni Wake Forest University alumni