Julie Furuta-Toy

Julie Furuta-Toy (born 1960)[1] is a former U.S. Ambassador to Equatorial Guinea. Following an initial announcement by President Barack Obama on June 18, 2015, Ambassador Furuta-Toy was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 22, 2015, and subsequently sworn in on November 24, 2015. She arrived in Malabo to take up her duties on January 7, 2016. Prior to her arrival in Equatorial Guinea, Ms. Furuta-Toy served as both Deputy Chief of Mission and chargé d'affaires at the Embassy of the United States, Oslo, (2012-2015). Her lengthy tenure as chargé d'affaires stemmed from delays related to the nomination and confirmation of a new ambassador to Norway by the United States Senate.[2]

Julie Furuta-Toy
United States Ambassador to Equatorial Guinea
In office
January 7, 2016 – February 25, 2019
PresidentBarack Obama
Donald Trump
Preceded byMark L. Asquino
Succeeded bySusan N. Stevenson
United States Ambassador to Norway
Acting
In office
September 28, 2013 – June 2015
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byBarry White
Succeeded byRobert Bradtke (Acting)
Personal details
Born1960 (age 62–63)
Alma materUniversity of California, Riverside
Indiana University, Bloomington
National Defense University

Early life and education

Ambassador Furuta-Toy was born in Opelika, Alabama, and raised in Riverside, California, and is the daughter of Emi K. Furuta and Tokuji Furuta.[3] She earned a Bachelor's degree from University of California, Riverside in 1981, and credits her liberal arts education and study abroad her final year in the U.K. with sparking her interest in a foreign service career.[4] She also earned a Master's degree in comparative literature from Indiana University and a Master's degree in security studies from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.[5]

Career

Ambassador Furuta-Toy entered the United States Foreign Service in 1986 and has served overseas assignments in the Philippines, Venezuela, Haiti, India, and Russia. She has served domestic assignments in the Bureau of Consular Affairs, the Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, and the Bureau of Human Resources. Her service as a consular officer includes time as Director of the Office of Children's Issues (2007–2009) and Director of the Office of Public and Diplomatic Liaison of the Visa Office (2004–2007). Prior to her arrival in Norway, she was the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Accra, Ghana (2009–2012).[5]

Personal

Furuta-Toy is married to Steven M. Toy, a fellow Foreign Service Officer, and they are the parents of two adult children. They reside in Wapiti, Wyoming.[6]

Furuta-Toy is of Japanese descent. Both of her parents were sent to Japanese internment camps during World War II.[6]

In addition to English, she speaks Spanish and Russian. Her hobbies include handicrafts, pet care, and listening to the viola.[7]

References
  1. Julia Ann Furuta-Toy (1960–)
  2. Gooding, George K (2014-10-06). "Norge har aldri gått lenger uten en ambassador fra USA". www.amerikanskpolitikk.no/. Foreign Policy. Retrieved 2014-11-01..
  3. "UC Riverside Alumna is Ambassador in Africa". UCR Today. January 15, 2016.
  4. U.C.R. The Magazine of U.S. Riverside, Spring 2016, p.4
  5. "About us: Ambassador". www.norway.usembassy.gov/. Embassy of the United States Oslo, Norway. 2013-03-18. Archived from the original on 2014-12-29. Retrieved 2015-01-08.
  6. "New U.S. diplomat to African nation calls Wyoming home". Billings Gazette. December 20, 2015.
  7. Ambassador Julie Furuta-Toy Embassy of the United States, accessed June 20, 2016

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