The ambassador of the United States of America to the Russian Federation is the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary from the United States of America to the Russian Federation. From January 30, 2023, to June 27, 2025, Lynne M. Tracy served as the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary. The position is currently vacant, but J. Douglas Dykhouse is serving in an ad interim capacity.
History
The United States first established diplomatic relations with the Russian Empire in 1780. Diplomatic relations were broken off in 1917 when the Bolsheviks seized power, and they were not reestablished until 1933. From 1933 to 1991, the United States recognized the Soviet Union. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the ambassador's title was changed to Ambassador to the Russian Federation, as Russia is the USSR's direct successor.
List of ambassadors Russian Empire (1780–1917) Name Appointment Presentation Termination Prior position; Later position Notes September 1783 Proceeded to post, but was not officially nominated at court. William Short August 1808 March 1809 The United States Senate rejected Short's nomination, and President Thomas Jefferson withdrew the nomination accordingly. He never reached Saint Petersburg. Senator Minister to the United Kingdom, Secretary of State, President Nomination of March 6, 1809 rejected by the Senate; nomination of June 26, 1809 confirmed. Senator, Attorney General None Senator, Secretary of the Treasury None Congressman, Governor None Senator None Proceeded to post, but did not present credentials. Congressman Senator, Secretary of State, President June 30, 1834 Senator Congressman, Secretary of War Senator Minister to the United Kingdom, Vice President Churchill C. Cambreleng Congressman None Commissioned not of record; letter of credence issued on May 25, 1840. Army officer None Congressman None Senator None Governor None Governor None Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on December 6, 1853. Congressman Governor None Assistant Secretary of State None None Senator, Secretary of War Senator Governor Congressman Governor None Governor None Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on December 10, 1873. Minister to the Ottoman Empire None Businessman None Minister to Mexico Secretary of State Cabinet None Died at post. Minister to Austria None Publisher Publisher Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on January 13, 1886. Judge Judge Took oath of office, but died in the United States before proceeding to post. Publisher Publisher College president Ambassador to Germany Congressman None Officially recognized on November 1, 1894. Business Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on December 18, 1897. Cabinet Position upgraded to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. Ambassador to Austro-Hungary Ambassador to Germany Ambassador to Austro-Hungary Ambassador to France Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on December 8, 1902. Ambassador to Italy Cabinet Secretary, Russia Army Minister to China Ambassador to Turkey Governor None Resigned due to poor health. Normal relations interrupted, November 7, 1917, after the October Revolution; the new Soviet regime unrecognized by the United States when Francis left Russia on November 7, 1918. He was serving as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim when Embassy in Russia was closed September 14, 1919.
Soviet Union (1933–1991) Name Appointment Presentation Termination Notes Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on January 15, 1934. Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on January 23, 1937. The Government of the Soviet Union declared Kennan persona non grata on October 3, 1952, and he did not return to his post. Adolph Dubs served as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim between January 1973 and March 1974. Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on June 8, 1977. Commissioned to the Soviet Union – continued to serve as Ambassador to the Russian Federation after the collapse of the USSR.
Russian Federation (1992–present) Image Name Appointment Presentation Termination Notes Chargé d'Affaires ad interim: Richard M. Miles (November 1996–May 1997), and John F. Tefft (May 1997–January 1998). Anthony Godfrey, Chargé d'Affaires ad interim John J. Sullivan Elizabeth Rood, Chargé d'Affaires ad interim Lynne Tracy J. Douglas Dykhouse, Chargé d'Affaires ad interim
Notes
See also Embassy of the United States, Moscow List of ambassadors of Russia to the United States Russia–United States relations Soviet Union–United States relations Russian Empire–United States relations Ambassadors of the United States
References United States Department of State: Background notes on Russia
Further reading
External links United States Department of State: Chiefs of Mission for Russia United States Department of State: Russia The Ambassadorial Series features in-depth interviews with nine former U.S. ambassadors to Russia and the Soviet Union. {Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey}