List of ambassadors of the United States to Malaysia

The ambassador of the United States of America to Malaysia is the head of the United States's diplomatic mission to Malaysia. The position has the rank and status of an ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary and is based in the Embassy of the United States, Kuala Lumpur.

Ambassador of the United States to Malaysia
Seal of the United States Department of State
Incumbent
Manu Bhalla
Chargé d'Affairs ad interim
since August 24, 2023[1]
StyleHis/Her Excellency
SeatKuala Lumpur, Malaysia
NominatorThe President of the United States
AppointerThe President
with Senate advice and consent
Inaugural holderThomas K. Wright
as Chargé d'affaires ad interim
FormationAugust 31, 1957
Websitemy.usembassy.gov

List of heads of mission

Ambassadors to Malaysia
NameCareerTitleAppointmentPresentation of credentialsTermination of mission
Thomas K. Wright[2]Career FSOChargé d'AffairesAugust 31, 1957September 4, 1957Superseded December 2, 1957
Homer M. Byington, Jr.[3]Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryOctober 3, 1957December 2, 1957Left post, April 1, 1961
Charles F. Baldwin[4]Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryFebruary 22, 1961April 29, 1961Left post, January 22, 1964
James D. BellCareer FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryMarch 4, 1964March 23, 1964Left post, July 15, 1969
Jack W. LydmanCareer FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiarySeptember 15, 1969October 8, 1969Left post, December 20, 1973
Francis T. Underhill, Jr.Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryDecember 19, 1973February 11, 1974Left post, May 10, 1977
Robert Hopkins MillerCareer FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryMay 26, 1977June 8, 1977Left post, March 8, 1980
Barbara M. WatsonPolitical appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryAugust 20, 1980September 25, 1980Left post, March 1, 1981
Ronald DeWayne PalmerCareer FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryJune 11, 1981June 24, 1981Left post, October 30, 1983
Thomas P. ShoesmithCareer FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryNovember 18, 1983December 12, 1983Left post, February 14, 1987
John Cameron MonjoCareer FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryApril 7, 1987June 10, 1987Left post, April 22, 1989
Paul Matthews ClevelandCareer FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryOctober 10, 1989November 8, 1989Left post, July 23, 1992
John Stern WolfCareer FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryAugust 11, 1992October 7, 1992Left post, June 10, 1995
John R. MalottCareer FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryDecember 19, 1995January 25, 1996Left post December 30, 1998
B. Lynn PascoeCareer FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryOctober 22, 1998March 1, 1999Left post August 11, 2001
Marie T. HuhtalaCareer FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryAugust 3, 2001October 17, 2001Left post May 28, 2004
Christopher J. LaFleurCareer FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryOctober 18, 2004January 4, 2005September 14, 2007
James R. KeithCareer FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryMay 30, 2007December 4, 2007Left post, March 15, 2010
Paul W. JonesCareer FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryAugust 5, 2010October 18, 2010July 8, 2013
Joseph Y. YunCareer FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiarySeptember 12, 2013October 3, 2013October 14, 2016
Kamala Shirin LakhdhirCareer FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryDecember 9, 2016February 21, 2017January 21, 2021
Brian D. McFeetersCareer FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryDecember 22, 2020February 26, 2021August 24, 2023
Manu BhallaCareer FSOChargé d'AffairesAugust 24, 2023Incumbent
  • Embassy Kuala Lumpur was established on August 31, 1957, with Wright in charge.

U.S. diplomatic terms

Career FSO
After 1915, The United States Department of State began classifying ambassadors as career Foreign Service Officers (FSOs) for those who have served in the Foreign Service for a specified amount of time.

Political appointee
A person who is not a career foreign service officer, but is appointed by the president (often as a reward to political friends).

Appointed
The date that the ambassador took the oath of office; also known as "commissioning". It follows confirmation of a presidential appointment by the Senate, or a Congressional recess appointment by the president. In the case of a recess appointment, the ambassador requires subsequent confirmation by the Senate to remain in office.

Presented credentials
The date that the ambassador presented his letter of credence to the head of state or appropriate authority of the receiving nation. At this time the ambassador officially becomes the representative of his country. This would normally occur a short time after the ambassador's arrival on station. The host nation may reject the ambassador by not receiving the ambassador's letter, but this occurs only rarely.

Terminated mission
Usually the date that the ambassador left the country. In some cases a letter of recall is presented, ending the ambassador's commission, either as a means of diplomatic protest or because the diplomat is being reassigned elsewhere and replaced by another envoy.

Chargé d'affaires
The person in charge of the business of the embassy when there is no ambassador commissioned to the host country.

Ad interim
Latin phrase meaning "for the time being", "in the meantime".

Notes
  1. https://my.usembassy.gov/deputy-chief-of-mission/
  2. Accredited to the Federation of Malaya. Not commissioned; letter of credence dated Aug 31, 1957.
  3. Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on January 27, 1958. Accredited to the Federation of Malaya.
  4. Accredited to the Federation of Malaya.

See also

References
  • United States Department of State: Background notes on Malaysia
  • Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets. United States Department of State.
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