Samuel B. Thomsen

Last updated
Samuel B. Thomsen
1st United States Ambassador to the Marshall Islands
In office
June 15, 1987 July 11, 1990
President Ronald Reagan
George H. W. Bush
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded by William Bodde, Jr.
Personal details
BornJuly 10, 1931
Saint Paul, Minnesota
NationalityFlag of the United States.svg  United States
Spouse(s)Judith Thomsen
ChildrenKaty Pistole, Samuel P. Thomsen, Robert Thomsen
Profession Diplomat
Military service
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service195154

Samuel B. Thomsen (born July 10, 1931 in Saint Paul, Minnesota) [1] is a former career diplomat who was the first United States Ambassador to the Marshall Islands, serving there from 1987 to 1990. [1] Thomsen entered the United States Foreign Service in 1960 and served in various positions in the United States Department of State, and in diplomatic assignments to Vietnam, Laos, Botswana and Nigeria. [2] While serving as Consul at Hue, Thomsen served as a political advisor to the commanding general of the U.S. Marines in Vietnam, Lt. Gen. Lewis Walt, from July 1965 to July 1966. [1] During Thomsen's service in the Marshall Islands, the office of the U.S. Representative was upgraded to Embassy status.

Background

Thomsen served in the United States Army from 1951 to 1954. He graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1957 with a BA degree in political science. He was executive director of the University Religious Conference of Santa Barbara, California, from 1957 to 1960. He retired from the Foreign Service in September 1990. [2] Since retiring, Thomsen has served as Vice President of DACOR (Diplomatic and Consular Officers, Retired) and as President of Thomsen International Associates.

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References

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
post created
United States Ambassador to the Marshall Islands
1987–1990
Succeeded by
William Bodde, Jr.