Francis J. Ricciardone, Jr.

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Francis J. Ricciardone, Jr.
Francis Ricciardone ambassador 2010.jpg
United States Ambassador to Turkey
In office
January 1, 2011 – July 7, 2014[1]
President Barack Obama
Preceded by James Franklin Jeffrey
Succeeded by John R. Bass
United States Deputy Ambassador to Afghanistan
In office
2009–2010
United States Ambassador to Egypt
In office
August 2, 2005 – 2008
Preceded by C. David Welch
Succeeded by Margaret Scobey
United States Ambassador to the Philippines
In office
February 21, 2002 – April 3, 2005
Preceded by Robert W. Fitts
Succeeded by Joseph Adamo Mussomeli
Personal details
Born 1951 (age 72–73)
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Spouse(s) Marie Ricciardone
Alma mater Dartmouth College
Profession Diplomat
Website francisricciardone.com

Francis J. Ricciardone, Jr. (born 1952) was the United States ambassador to Turkey[2] between 2011 - 2014.[3] Previously he was Deputy Ambassador at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. He was also on leave from the U.S. Department of State as a guest scholar at the U.S. Institute of Peace. He has served as U.S. Ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt (2005–2008),[4] the Republic of the Philippines and the Republic of Palau (2002–2005). As a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, he received U.S. government and other organization awards for his work in foreign policy and program management, political reporting and analysis, and peacekeeping.

Ricciardone has extensive diplomatic experience with Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Jordan. He speaks fluent Arabic, Turkish, and Italian. He has served in two multinational military deployments: as chief of the Civilian Observer Unit of the Multinational Force and Observers in Egypt's Sinai Desert, and as political advisor to the U.S. and Turkish commanding generals of Operation Provide Comfort, based in Turkey and operating in Iraq. In Washington, Ricciardone directed the Department of State's 9/11 Task Force on the Coalition Against Terrorism and served as Secretary of State Madeleine Albright's special coordinator for the Transition of Iraq (1999–2001). He also has served in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research, the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, and in senior management positions under the Director General of the Foreign Service and of Human Resources.

Early life and career

Ricciardone is the son of Francis Ricciardone, Sr., a Seabee veteran of World War II.[5] He graduated from Malden Catholic High School in Malden, Massachusetts.

Upon graduation summa cum laude from Dartmouth College in 1973, he received a Fulbright Scholarship for teaching and study in Italy. He went to Iran as a teacher in 1976 where he taught at the Community School, Tehran, traveling widely in Southwest Asia, Europe, and the Middle East until he entered the Foreign Service in 1978.[6]

He speaks Italian, Turkish, Arabic and French.[7]

Foreign service

Nominated by President George W. Bush on July 25, 2005, and confirmed by the United States Senate on July 29, 2005, Ricciardone was sworn in as United States Ambassador to Egypt on August 26, 2005.

Ricciardone was Deputy Ambassador for the American mission to Afghanistan from May 2010.[8][9][10]

Ricciardone's nomination to be ambassador to Turkey stalled during 2010, and in late 2010, President Obama gave Ricciardone a recess appointment so he could begin serving. The U.S. Senate then confirmed Ricciardone in a voice vote on October 4, 2011.[11]

Family

Ricciardone is married to Marie, a molecular biologist[12] who was educated and later taught in Turkish universities during her husband's service time in Turkey.[5] The couple has two daughters, Francesca and Chiara. Francesca was born in Turkey. Both daughters were schooled in Ankara for three years.[5]

References

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External links

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by United States Ambassador to the Philippines
2002 - 2005
Succeeded by
Joseph A. Mussomeli
Preceded by United States Ambassador to Egypt
2005-2008
Succeeded by
Margaret Scobey
Preceded by United States Ambassador to Turkey
2011-2014
Succeeded by
John R. Bass

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