From 1885 until 1966 the area of Southern Africa that is now Botswana was part of the Bechuanaland Protectorate of Great Britain.
In June 1964, Britain accepted proposals for democratic self-government in Botswana. The seat of government was moved from Mahikeng in South Africa, to newly established in Gaberones (now Gaborone) in 1965. The 1965 constitution led to the first general elections and to independence on 30 September 1966.
The United States immediately recognized the new nation and moved to establish diplomatic relations. An embassy in Gaberones was established on 30 September 1966—independence day for Botswana. Charles H. Pletcher was appointed as ad interim pending the appointment of an ambassador. He served June 1970–September 1971.
Ambassadors Note: Charles H. Pletcher served as chargé d'affaires September 1966–June 1970. W. Kennedy Cromwell III +NameTitleAppointedPresented credentialsTerminated missionNotesCharles J. Nelson – Political appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary9 June 19713 November 1971Left Gaborone, 2 March 1974David B. Bolen – Career FSO28 February 197422 April 1974Left Gaborone, 11 August 1976Donald R. Norland – Career FSO17 November 197623 February 1978Left Gaborone, 8 September 1979In 1979 the first ambassador was appointed solely for Botswana.Horace Dawson – Career FSO12 October 197927 November 197927 August 1982Theodore C. Maino – Political appointee30 September 19822 December 19826 September 1985Natale H. Bellocchi – Career FSO28 October 198519 November 198516 September 1988John Florian Kordek – Career FSO11 August 198829 September 19881 November 1989David Passage – Career FSO27 June 19907 August 199029 April 1993Howard Franklin Jeter – Career FSO16 July 19939 September 199321 June 1996Robert Krueger – Political appointee6 June 199623 July 19966 December 1999John E. Lange – Career FSO16 November 199915 December 19998 August 2002Joseph Huggins – Career FSO15 November 200228 January 200326 July 2005Katherine H. P. Canavan – Career FSO2 August 200527 September 200527 June 2008United States Dep’t of State: Biography of Katherine H. CanavanStephen J. Nolan – Career FSO23 June 2008United States Dep’t of State: Biography of Stephen J. Nolan6 October 200813 June 2011Michelle D. Gavin – Political appointee 18 April 2011 20 June 2011 22 February 2014Earl Robert Miller – Foreign Service SpecialistDecember 201418 December 201424 September 2018Craig L. Cloud - Career FSO7 January 20192 April 201924 May 2022Howard Van Vranken - Career FSO21 December 202224 May 202326 August 2026Christopher J. Gunning - Career FSOChargé d'affaires ad interim26 August 2026Present
Notes
See also Botswana–United States relations Foreign relations of Botswana Ambassadors of the United States
References
United States Department of State: Background notes on Botswana
External links United States Department of State: Chiefs of Mission for Botswana United States Department of State: Botswana United States Embassy in Gaborone