W. Stuart Symington (diplomat)

William Stuart Symington IV (born 1952)[1] is a career diplomat for the United States. He served as the United States Special Envoy for South Sudan from January 2020 to February 2021. Previously, he served as ambassador to Djibouti, Nigeria, and Rwanda, among other posts.[2]

W. Stuart Symington
United States Ambassador to Nigeria
In office
December 1, 2016 – August 30, 2019
PresidentBarack Obama
Donald Trump
Preceded byJames F. Entwistle
Succeeded byMary Beth Leonard
Deputy Assistant Secretary and United States Special Representative for the Central African Republic
In office
April 21, 2014 – September 2016
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byvacant
United States Ambassador to Rwanda
In office
November 3, 2008 – July 5, 2011
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Barack Obama
Preceded byMichael R. Arietti
Succeeded byDonald Koran
United States Ambassador to Djibouti
In office
September 18, 2006 – May 31, 2008
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byMarguerita Ragsdale
Succeeded byJames C. Swan
Personal details
Born
William Stuart Symington IV

1952 (age 71–72)
SpouseSusan Ide
Alma materBrown University
Columbia Law School

Biography

edit

Symington graduated from John Burroughs School in Ladue, Missouri, in 1970.[3] He received a B.A. from Brown University and a J.D. from Columbia Law School.[4]

He practiced law in Missouri, New York, London, and Paris.

Symington joined the U.S. State Department and served in Ecuador, Mexico, Spain, and Honduras and as a Pearson Fellow in the office of U.S. Congressman Ike Skelton.[4]

His next postings were as Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé d'Affaires in Niger (2001-03), Deputy Director of the State Department's Office of West African Affairs (2003-05), and Political Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq (2004-05). He then served as the United States Department of State's representative at the Joint Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia, from 2005 to 2006.[4]

Symington received his first appointment as ambassador in 2006, to Djibouti, where he served until 2008. He then served as ambassador to Rwanda from 2008 to 2011.

His next posts were Political Advisor to the Commander of NORAD/U.S. Northern Command (2011–14), U.S. Special Representative for the Central African Republic (2014-16), and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Central Africa and African Security Affairs (2015-16).

Symington served again as U.S. ambassador, to the Federal Republic of Nigeria from 2016 to 2019.[5] From January 2020 to February 2021, he served as U.S. Special Envoy for South Sudan.

He and his spouse Susan Ide Symington have been married for 40 years. A member of the Symington family, he is the grandson of Senator Stuart Symington.

References

edit
  1. ^ "W. Stuart Symington V - People - Department History - Office of the Historian". history.state.gov. Archived from the original on 2020-06-03. Retrieved 2019-09-09.
  2. ^ "Symington, W. Stuart". State.gov. 2005-01-30. Archived from the original on 2017-10-02. Retrieved 2016-05-12.
  3. ^ "U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria: Who Is Stuart Symington?". AllGov. Archived from the original on 2023-11-07. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  4. ^ a b c "Ambassador W. Stuart Symington". State Department. Archived from the original on August 6, 2019. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  5. ^ "Ambassador W. Stuart Symington U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria". Archived from the original on 2016-11-17. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by United States Ambassador to Djibouti
2006–2008
Succeeded by
Preceded by United States Ambassador to Rwanda
2008–2011
Succeeded by
Preceded by United States Ambassador to Nigeria
2016–2019
Succeeded by
New office United States Special Representative for the Central African Republic
2014–2016
Vacant