List of United States permanent representatives to NATO

Last updated

Permanent Representative of the United States to NATO
US Department of State official seal.svg
Seal of the United States Department of State
DCM-Oudkirk-small-347x433.jpg
Incumbent
Scott M. Oudkirk
Chargé d'affaires [1]
since October 24, 2024
NominatorThe president of the United States
AppointerThe president of the United States with Senate advice and consent
Inaugural holder William H. Draper Jr.
as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
FormationApril 8, 1953
Website U.S. Mission - NATO

The United States permanent representative to NATO (commonly referred to as the U.S. ambassador to NATO) is the official representative of the United States mission to NATO. The representative has the rank of full ambassador and is appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. The official title of the representative is United States permanent representative on the Council of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, with the rank and status of ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary.

Contents

The first representative was appointed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953.

List

#PortraitAmbassadorDates served
1 William Henry Draper Jr.jpg William Henry Draper, Jr. April 8, 1953 – June 13, 1953
2 No image.svg John Chambers Hughes June 12, 1953 – April 20, 1955
3 No image.svg George Walbridge Perkins, Jr. March 14, 1955 – October 12, 1957
4 No image.svg Warren Randolph Burgess September 21, 1957 – March 23, 1961
5 Thomas K. Finletter.jpg Thomas K. Finletter March 2, 1961 – September 2, 1965
6 Harlan Cleveland 2006.jpg Harlan Cleveland September 1, 1965 – June 11, 1969
7 Robert F. Ellsworth.jpg Robert Ellsworth May 13, 1969 – June 30, 1971
8 David M Kennedy.jpg David M. Kennedy March 17, 1972 – February 1, 1973
9 Rumsfeld1.jpg Donald Rumsfeld February 2, 1973 – December 5, 1974
10 David K. E. Bruce.jpg David K. E. Bruce October 17, 1974 – February 12, 1976
11 No image.svg Robert Strausz-Hupé March 3, 1976 – April 20, 1977
12 Tappley Bennett.JPG William Tapley Bennett Jr. April 26, 1977 – March 31, 1983
13 David M Abshire.jpg David Manker Abshire July 13, 1983 – January 5, 1987
14 Alton Keel 1986.jpg Alton G. Keel, Jr. March 13, 1987 – June 17, 1989
15 William Howard Taft IV, Deptuty Secretary of Defense, official portrait.JPEG William Howard Taft IV August 3, 1989 – June 26, 1992
16 Reginald Bartholomew 1984 (cropped).jpg Reginald Bartholomew June 15, 1992 – March 25, 1993
17 WilsonHunter.preview.JPG Robert E. Hunter July 1, 1993 – December 31, 1997
18 Alexander Vershbow.JPG Alexander Vershbow January 1, 1998 – July 9, 2001
19 Assignment- 59-CF-DS-24774-05) Official portrait of R. Nicholas Burns, Under Secretary for Political Affairs (Photographer- Ann Thomas--State) (59-CF-DS-24774-05 Burns Nick fromPSD. - DPLA - f4243003ba9e37e05b4cd2e0e77a3e8d.jpg R. Nicholas Burns August 7, 2001 – March 7, 2005
20 Victoria Nuland State Department.jpg Victoria Nuland July 13, 2005 – May 2, 2008
21 Kurt Volker.jpg Kurt Volker July 2, 2008 – May 13, 2009
22 Amb. Ivo H. Daalder WEB.jpg Ivo Daalder May 15, 2009 – July 6, 2013
23 Douglas Lute 2013.JPG Douglas Lute September 3, 2013 – January 20, 2017
24 Kay Bailey Hutchison official photo (cropped).jpg Kay Bailey Hutchison August 28, 2017 – January 20, 2021
25 Julianne Smith, NATO Ambassador.jpg Julianne Smith December 6, 2021 – October 23, 2024
- DCM-Oudkirk-small-347x433.jpg Scott Oudkirk (acting)October 23, 2024 –
26 Matthew G. Whitaker official photo.jpg Matthew Whitaker Nominee

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