Daniel H. Simpson

Daniel Howard Simpson (July 9, 1939 – June 6, 2022) was an American Foreign Service Officer. He was the United States Ambassador to the Central African Republic (1990–92),[1] Special Envoy to Somalia[3] and the United States Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1995–98)[1] as well as undertaking other overseas assignments in Burundi, South Africa, Zaire (on three separate occasions) Iceland, Lebanon and Bosnia-Herzegovina.[4] He also served as the Deputy Commandant of the United States Army War College[3] and on the Board of directors as the Vice President of the National Defense University for the United States Institute of Peace.[5]

Before joining the United States Foreign Service and becoming a diplomat in 1966, Simpson studied English literature at Yale University and African studies at Northwestern University,[3] before travelling Africa to teach at the Eghosa Anglican Boys’ School in Benin City, Nigeria,[4] and at the Libyan Army Military College in Benghazi, Libya.[3]

After retirement from the Department of State in 2001, Simpson has been a writer and columnist for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and The Blade[3] as well as a member of the American Academy of Diplomacy.[3]