Ronald E. Neumann Ambassador, Afghanistan Term of Appointment: 07/27/2005 to present Formerly a Deputy Assistant Secretary and twice an Ambassador (Algeria and Bahrain) Ronald E. Neumann has a combination of regional expertise and leadership ability that equip him to serve as Ambassador to the Islamic State of Afghanistan. Mr. Neumann, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, served most recently in Baghdad from February 2004 with the Coalition Provisional Authority and then as Embassy Baghdad’s principal interlocutor with the Multinational Command, where he was deeply involved in coordinating the political part of military operations in Fallujah, Najaf, and other areas. Prior to working in Iraq, he was Chief of Mission in Manama, Bahrain (2001-2004), where, as Ambassador, he worked on maintaining the balance between urging progress on democratic reform and expanding solid relations with a friendly monarchy that was beginning important political reforms. Before that, Ambassador Neumann served as a Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Near East Affairs (1997-2000), where he directed the organization of the first separately-funded NEA democracy programs and also was responsible for the bureau’s work in developing the North African Economic Initiative for Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria. Before that assignment, he was Ambassador to Algeria (1994 to 1997) and Director of the Office of Northern Gulf Affairs (1991 to 1994). Earlier in his career, he was Deputy Chief of Mission in Abu Dhabi and in Sanaa, Principal Officer in Tabriz, and Economic/Commercial Officer in Dakar. His previous Washington assignments include service as Deputy Director of the Office of Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Palestinian Affairs; Staff Assistant in the NEA Bureau; and Political Officer in the Office of Southern European Affairs. Ambassador Neumann speaks Arabic and French. He received State Department Senior Foreign Service pay awards in 2004, 2003, and 1999 as well as individual Superior Honor Awards in 1993 and 1990. He served as an Army infantry officer in Viet Nam and holds a Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal and Combat Infantry Badge. In Baghdad, he was awarded the Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal. He earned a B.A. in history and an M.A. in political science from the University of California at Riverside. He is married to the former M. Elaine Grimm. They have two children.