Charles Arthur Ford is an American former United States Department of Commerce official and diplomat who served as the director general of the United States Commercial Service from 2010 to 2013 and

U.S. Ambassador to Honduras The following is a list of United States ambassadors, or other chiefs of mission, to Honduras. The title given by the United States State Department to this position is currently ''Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.'' See also * H ...

from 2005 to 2008.

Early life and education

Ford was born in Dayton, Ohio in May 1950. He obtained his B.A. in economics from the College of William & Mary in 1972, and his M.A. in Latin American studies from George Washington University in 1975.

Career

Ford is the president of CAF International, an international market development, and strategic communication, and change management consultancy firm. Previously, Ford served as acting assistant secretary of the United States Commercial Service at the United States Department of Commerce. In this role, he managed a $270 million budget and 1400 employees located in more than 70 countries. From 2008 to 2009, he served as the advisor on public-private partnerships to the Commander of United States Southern Command. He served as the

from 2005 to 2008. As a member of the United States Foreign Commercial Service since 1982, Ford has had an extensive experience in Europe and Latin America. He served as a commercial minister at the U.S. Mission to the European Union in Brussels, Belgium, commercial counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela, commercial minister at the U.S. Embassy in London, United Kingdom, commercial attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala, commercial consul at the U.S. Consulate in Barcelona, Spain, and commercial attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires. From 1990 to 1994, he served as the deputy assistant secretary for International Operations of the USFCS and as director of Latin American Trade Policy in the International Trade Administration.

Memberships

Ford is the Treasurer of the

American Foreign Service Association American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), established in 1924, is the professional association of the United States Foreign Service. With over 15,000 dues-paying members, American Foreign Service Association represents 28,000 active and retir ...

and he is a member of the American Academy of Diplomacy. He is on the board of several organizations, including the PDI Group,

The Thomas Jefferson Program in Public Policy The Thomas Jefferson Program in Public Policy is a graduate and undergraduate program at the College of William and Mary, founded in 1987. It enrolled its first class of graduate students in 1991. It is among the College's most interdisciplinary and ...

, the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration, and the

Ringgold–Carroll House The Ringgold–Carroll House (also formerly known as the John Marshall House and now known as the DACOR-Bacon House) is a historic residence located at 1801 F St Northwest, Washington, D.C. One of the finest of the few remaining examples of Feder ...

Recognition

Ford received the President's Award for Distinguished Service in 2008 and the Joint Distinguished Civilian Service Award from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Department of Defense in 2009. He earned the Silver Medal for expansion of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service network into the former Soviet Union, the Department of Commerce Gold Medal for Distinguished Achievement in Federal Service, and the Department of Commerce/International Trade Administration Bronze Medal for outstanding achievement at the

United States Mission to the European Union The United States Mission to the European Union (USEU) is the diplomatic mission of the United States to the European Union; it is based in Brussels, Belgium. The US has maintained diplomatic relations with the EU and its predecessors since 19 ...

Personal life

Ford lives in the Washington D.C. area and is married to Lillian Ford. They have two adult children, Monica Ann and Michael Arthur.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ford, Charles A. 1950 births Living people Ambassadors of the United States to Honduras People from Dayton, Ohio George Washington University alumni College of William & Mary alumni Department of Commerce Gold Medal Commercial attachés