This is a list of ambassadors of the United States to Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta).
Until 1960 Upper Volta was a French possession as a part of French West Africa. In 1958 Upper Volta became an autonomous republic in the French Community (Communauté française), and achieved independence as the Republic of Upper Volta on August 5, 1960.
The United States recognized Upper Volta immediately and assigned its first envoy on the nation's independence day, August 5. The envoy, Donald R. Norland, had presented his credentials as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim on the previous day, August 4, to take effect on the day of independence. Norland was also the Chargé d'Affaires a.i. to the newly independent nations: Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire), Dahomey (Benin) and Niger while resident in Abidjan.
The first ranking ambassador, R. Borden Reams, was appointed October 17, 1960. He was also the ambassador to the aforementioned countries while resident in Abidjan. On December 31, 1960, an embassy was established in Ouagadougou with a resident Chargé d'affaires. On May 29, 1961, the first ambassador solely accredited to Upper Volta was appointed.
On August 4, 1984, the nation's name was changed to Burkina Faso.
The United States Embassy in Burkina Faso is located in Ouagadougou.
Ambassadors +NameTitleAppointedPresented credentialsTerminated missionNotesR. Borden ReamsReams was commissioned during a recess of the Senate.Reams was also accredited to Ivory Coast, Dahomey, and Niger while resident at Abidjan.– Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryOctober 17, 1960December 6, 1960June 26, 1961Thomas S. Estes – Career FSOMay 29, 1961June 26, 1961July 13, 1966Elliott P. Skinner – political appointeeMay 27, 1966September 14, 1966July 16, 1969William E. Schaufele, Jr. – Career FSOSeptember 29, 1969October 16, 1969July 10, 1971Donald B. Easum – Career FSONovember 5, 1971December 8, 1971January 19, 1974Pierre R. Graham – Career FSOJune 20, 1974July 30, 1974June 13, 1978Thomas D. Boyatt – Career FSOJuly 18, 1978September 21, 1978October 23, 1980 Larry C. GrahlChargé d'affaires ad interimOctober 23, 1980November 18, 1981Julius Waring Walker, Jr. – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryJuly 18, 1981November 18, 1981July 5, 1984Leonardo Neher – Career FSOJune 28, 1984September 21, 1984August 1, 1987David H. Shinn – Career FSONovember 6, 1987November 28, 1987August 6, 1990Edward P. Brynn – Career FSOOctober 22, 1990January 14, 1991April 17, 1993Donald J. McConnell – Career FSOAugust 9, 1993November 22, 1993June 4, 1996Sharon P. Wilkinson – Career FSOJuly 11, 1996October 24, 1996July 12, 1999Jimmy J. Kolker – Career FSONovember 16, 1999January 11, 2000August 2, 2002J. Anthony Holmes – Career FSOOctober 3, 2002December 23, 2002July 9, 2005Jeanine E. Jackson – Career FSOFebruary 21, 2006March 24, 2006March 7, 2009J. Thomas Dougherty – Career FSOAugust 5, 2010September 30, 2010September 30, 2013Tulinabo S. Mushingi - Career FSOJuly 9, 2013September 17, 2013October 27, 2016Andrew Robert Young - Career FSOSeptember 28, 2016November 20, 2016March 26, 2020Sandra E. Clark - Career FSOAugust 12, 2020September 25, 2020December 18, 2023Eric Whitaker - Career FSOChargé d'affaires ad interimDecember 19, 2023June 27, 2024Joann M. Lockard - Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryMay 2, 2024June 28, 2024Present
Notes
See also Ambassadors to Burkina Faso Burkina Faso – United States relations Foreign relations of Burkina Faso Ambassadors of the United States
References United States Department of State: Background notes on Burkina Faso
External links United States Department of State: Chiefs of Mission for Burkina Faso United States Department of State: Burkina Faso United States Embassy in Ouagadougou