Robert Stephen Ford
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Robert Stephen Ford
This article is about an American diplomat. For other people named Robert Ford, see Robert Ford (disambiguation).
| Robert Stephen Ford | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| United States Ambassador to Syria | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 2010 |
|
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Maura Connelly |
| United States Ambassador to Algeria | |
| In office 2006–2008 |
|
| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Richard W. Erdman |
| Succeeded by | David D. Pearce |
| Personal details | |
| Profession | Diplomat, Career Ambassador |
Robert Stephen Ford (born 1958) is an American career diplomat currently serving as the United States Ambassador to Syria.[1] He served as the United States Ambassador to Algeria from 2006 to 2008.
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Contents
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Personal life and education
Ford is originally from Denver[2] but is more recently a resident of Maryland.[3] He received his Master of Arts in 1983 from Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies of The Johns Hopkins University.[3] In addition to English, Ford speaks German, Turkish, French, and Arabic.[3] A senior advisor to the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq once described Ford as being "regarded as one of the best Arabists in the State Department".[4] Ford is married to Alison Barkley, who is a fellow diplomat.[2]
Career
Ford is a career member of the United States Foreign Service. He entered the service in 1985 and has been stationed in İzmir, Cairo, Algiers, and Yaoundé. Ford served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Bahrain from 2001 until 2004, and Political Counselor to the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad from 2004 until 2006.[3]
Ford was nominated for the position of United States Ambassador to Algeria by President George W. Bush on April 13, 2006. The nomination was sent to the Senate on April 24 and confirmed on May 27.[3] He was sworn in on August 11.[3] He served in the Algiers post until June 26, 2008.[5]
In 2010, President Obama nominated Ford as the first United States Ambassador to Syria in five years (pending Senate approval).[6]
In December 2010, after the Senate had failed to act on Ford's nomination, President Obama used a recess appointment to secure Ford the position.[1]
The Senate then confirmed Ford by unanimous consent on October 3, 2011.[7][8] As a result, Ford no longer is serving under a recess appointment and therefore may hold the position until Obama's term ends in January 2013.
On October 24, 2011, Ford was recalled from Syria due to what the State Department described as "credible threats" to his safety.[9] Ford had attracted the ire of regime supporters due to his strong support of the Syrian pro-democracy protests. According to American officials, Ford had been attacked by an armed pro-government mob, and Syrian state television had begun running false reports blaming him for the formation of death squads similar to those in Iraq. This led to fears that regime supporters might try to kill him.[10]
Actions in Syria
He visited Hama, where he was cheered by protesters.[11] He visited a mass grave at Jisr ash-Shugur.[12] He met with Hassan Abdul-Azim, and was attacked with eggs and tomatoes, by government supporters.[13][14] Former CIA intelligence officer Michael Scheuer has asserted that prior to Ford's removal he was traveling across the country inciting groups to overthrow the government.[15]
Honors
Ford is a recipient of several Department of State awards, including the 2005 James Clement Dunn Award for outstanding work at the mid-level in the Foreign Service as well as three Superior Honor Awards and two Meritorious Honor Awards.[3] In 2012 Ford was awarded the Profile in Courage Award for his work as the US ambassador in Syria amidst "repeated threats to his life" where he was "traveling around Syria to encourage and support peaceful protesters targeted by Assad’s brutal crackdown."[16]
References
- ^ a b Phillip, Abby. "Ford in spotlight amid Syria revolt". Politico. http://www.politico.com/politico44/perm/0411/a_useful_guy_528d2a43-3845-42b3-a9d1-c07b41fbf2fb.html. Retrieved 2011-07-23.
- ^ a b Daragahi, Borzou (2006-06-03). "Progress and Pain Marked Envoy's Tenure in Iraq". Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/2006/jun/03/world/fg-ford3. Retrieved 2010-02-03.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Biography: Robert S. Ford (archive.org)". U.S. State Department. 2006-08-21. Archived from the original on 2008-04-11. http://web.archive.org/web/20080411134402/http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/70946.htm. Retrieved 2010-02-03.
- ^ "Coalition Provisional Authority Briefing". GlobalSecurity.org. 2004-06-12. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2004/06/mil-040612-dod01.htm. Retrieved 2010-02-03.
- ^ "Bouteflika re-appoints Ouyahia as PM". Middle East Online. June 24, 2008. http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=26586.
- ^ "US nominates first ambassador to Syria in five years". BBC News. 2010-02-03. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8496300.stm. Retrieved 2010-02-03.
- ^ http://www.senate.gov/galleries/pdcl/
- ^ "U.S. Senate approves Robert Ford as ambassador". The Los Angeles Times. October 4, 2011. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2011/10/syria-us-ambassador-robert-ford-confirmation.html.
- ^ Radia, Kirit (October 24, 2011). "U.S. Brings Ambassador Ford Home From Syria, Citing Threats to Safety". ABC News. http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/us-brings-ambassador-ford-home-syria-citing-threats/story?id=14803174. Retrieved October 24, 2011.
- ^ "U.S. pulls envoy from Syria over safety concerns". CNN. October 24, 2011. http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/24/world/meast/syria-us-ambassador/index.html. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
- ^ Mary Beth Sheridan (July 12, 2011). "Low-key U.S. diplomat transforms Syria Policy". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/low-key-us-diplomat-transforms-syria-policy/2011/07/12/gIQAc5kSBI_story.html.
- ^ Leon Watson (29 September 2011). "U.S. Ambassador egged by angry mob in Syria who tried to storm building in Damascus". The Daily Mail (London). http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2043344/U-S-Ambassador-Robert-Ford-egged-angry-mob-Syria-tried-storm-building-Damascus.html.
- ^ "Robert Ford, U.S. Ambassador To Syria, Pelted With Tomatoes". Huffington Post. September 29, 2011. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/29/robert-ford-tomatoes_n_986712.html.
- ^ "SYRIA: U.S. ambassador threatened by pro-government crowd". The Los Angeles Times. September 29, 2011. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2011/09/syria-us-ambassador-ford.html.
- ^ Scheuer, Michael; Chichakyan, Gayane (interviewer) (November 13, 2011). Ex-CIA Agent: America creates its own enemies (Television production). Washington, D.C.: Russia Today. Event occurs at 03:30. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLjZoA3GaVE. Retrieved January 7, 2012. "Until they removed the US ambassador he was running around the country trying to encourage groups to overthrow the Syrian government. That is not the role of any diplomat."
- ^ "JFK awards for 3 Iowa Supreme Court justices, US ambassador to Syria for ‘doing what’s right’". Washington Post. Associated Press. May 6, 2012. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/jfk-awards-for-3-iowa-supreme-court-justices-us-ambassador-to-syria-for-doing-whats-right/2012/05/06/gIQAUp635T_story.html. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
External links
- US ambassador Robert Ford: Syria must 'respect human rights', BBC News, 4 October 2011
- "U.S. Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford Calls Crackdown in Hama "Grotesque" and "Abhorrent"", ABC News, Imtiyaz Delawala, August 4, 2011
- "Robert Ford: Families of Syrian-American protesters being tortured by regime", The Cable, Josh Rogin, September 26, 2011
- Rania Abouzeid (September 28, 2011). "U.S. to Syrians: 'Don't Expect Another Libya'". Time. http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2094881,00.html.
This article contains text in the public domain published by the U.S. Department of State.
| Diplomatic posts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Richard W. Erdman |
U.S. Ambassador to Algeria 2006–2008 |
Succeeded by David D. Pearce |
| Preceded by Margaret Scobey |
U.S. Ambassador to Syria 2011-Present |
Succeeded by |
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