List of ambassadors of the United States to Saudi Arabia

The United States ambassador to Saudi Arabia is the official representative of the president of the United States to the head of state of Saudi Arabia.

The United States recognized the government of King Ibn Saud in 1931, but it was not until 1939 when it appointed its first U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Bert Fish, then resident in Cairo and ambassador to Egypt. Fish made one trip down to Jeddah in 1940 to meet the King and present his credentials, but it was not until after his mission was terminated that a legation was established there on May 1, 1942.

The ambassador holds the title Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.

Ambassadors

+NameTitleAppointedPresented credentialsTerminated missionNotesBert FishAlso accredited to Egypt; resident at Cairo. – Political appointeeEnvoy Extraordinary and Minister PlenipotentiaryAug 7, 1939Feb 4, 1940Feb 28, 1941 The Legation in Jeddah was established on May 1, 1942, with James S. Moose Jr., as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim.Alexander C. KirkAlso accredited to Egypt and to the Government of Greece established in Egypt; resident at Cairo. – Career FSOFeb 21, 1941May 11, 1942Jul 18, 1943James S. Moose Jr. – Career FSOMinister Resident/Foreign Service officerJun 4, 1943Jul 18, 1943Aug 18, 1944William A. Eddy – Political appointeeEnvoy Extraordinary and Minister PlenipotentiaryAug 12, 1944Sep 23, 1944May 28, 1946J. Rives ChildsAlso accredited to Yemen; resident at Jidda. – Career FSOApr 27, 1946Jun 29, 1946Jul 21, 1950Promoted to Ambassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryRaymond A. Hare – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiarySep 20, 1950Oct 24, 1950Jul 8, 1953George WadsworthCommissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on Jan 26, 1954. – Career FSOOct 21, 1953 Jan 9, 1954Jan 1, 1958Donald R. HeathAlso commissioned to Yemen, but did not present credentials in that country. Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on Jan 27, 1958. – Career FSONov 27, 1957 Jan 9, 1958Apr 18, 1961Parker T. HartAlso commissioned to Kuwait and Yemen; resident at Jidda. – Career FSOApr 6, 1961Jul 22, 1961May 29, 1965Hermann F. Eilts – Career FSOOct 20, 1965Jan 15, 1966Jul 23, 1970Nicholas G. Thacher – Career FSOSep 8, 1970Sep 22, 1970Sep 19, 1973James E. Akins – Career FSOSep 20, 1973Nov 7, 1973Feb 10, 1975William J. Porter – Career FSODec 22, 1975Feb 21, 1976May 27, 1977John C. West – Political appointeeJun 8, 1977Jun 29, 1977Mar 21, 1981Robert G. Neumann – Political appointeeMay 20, 1981Jun 22, 1981Jul 16, 1981Richard W. MurphyCommissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on Sep 29, 1981. – Career FSOAug 19, 1981 Aug 29, 1981Aug 21, 1983Walter L. Cutler – Career FSOFeb 10, 1984Mar 31, 1984Jun 22, 1987 On Sep 26, 1984, the U.S. Liaison Office in Riyadh was raised to the rank of embassy while the embassy in Jeddah became a consulate.Hume Alexander Horan – Career FSOJul 2, 1987Sep 22, 1987Apr 22, 1988Walter L. Cutler – Career FSOJul 15, 1988Aug 17, 1988Apr 30, 1989Chas W. Freeman Jr. – Career FSOJun 15, 1989Jan 14, 1990Aug 13, 1992C. David WelchChargé d'Affaires ad interimAug 13, 1992N/AAug 1, 1994Raymond Edwin Mabus Jr. – Political appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryJul 5, 1994Aug 1, 1994Apr 25, 1996Wyche Fowler Jr.Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on Oct 31, 1997. – Political appointeeAug 9, 1996Sep 14, 1996Mar 1, 2001Robert W. Jordan – Political appointeeOct 5, 2001Jun 30, 2002Oct 13, 2003James C. Oberwetter – Political appointeeDec 11, 2003Oct 10, 2004Mar 31, 2007Ford M. FrakerHad presented his credentials to the Foreign Minister, May 5, 2007. – Political appointeeMarch 30, 2007September 2, 2007January 20, 2009James B. Smith – Political appointeeSeptember 16, 2009October 31, 2009September 27, 2013Joseph W. Westphal – Political appointeeMarch 26, 2014March 28, 2014January 8, 2017Christopher HenzelChargé d'Affaires ad interimJanuary 8, 2017N/AApril 17, 2019John Abizaid – Political appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryApril 10, 2019June 16, 2019January 20, 2021Martina A. StrongChargé d'Affaires ad interimJanuary 20, 2021N/AApril 16, 2023Denison OffuttChargé d'Affaires ad interimApril 16, 2023N/AApril 27, 2023Michael Alan Ratney - Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryMarch 14, 2023April 27, 2023January 20, 2025Alison DilworthChargé d'Affaires ad interimJanuary 20, 2025N/AAugust 13, 2026Jennifer LarsonChargé d'Affaires ad interimAugust 14, 2026N/APresent

References

See also Saudi Arabia–United States relations Ambassadors of the United States Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Washington, D.C. Ambassadors of Saudi Arabia to the United States

References United States Department of State: Background notes on Saudi Arabia

External links United States Department of State: Chiefs of Mission for Saudi Arabia United States Department of State: Saudi Arabia United States Embassy in Riyadh