Gordon Gray III
Encyclopedia
Gordon Gray III is a United States Foreign Service Officer
and career member of the Senior Foreign Service
with the rank of Minister-Counselor. He is the U.S. Ambassador to Tunisia
, a post he has held since September 2009 after his appointment to the position by President Barack Obama.
in 1956. He attended Yale University
, receiving a his B.A. in Political Science
in 1978. Gray later served in the Peace Corps
in Oued Zim, Morocco
until 1980. He then attended Columbia University
, from which he graduated in 1982 with an M.A. in International Affairs
.
Gray began his Foreign Service
career in 1982. His first tours of duty included postings in Karachi
, Amman
, and Ottawa
. He was appointed as Director of Counterterrorism Regional Affairs Office at the United States Department of State
in 1996 and held the post until 1999. He was then appointed as the Director of the Office of Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Operations from 1999 to 2001. Between 2002 and 2005, Gray served as the deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo
. While holding this post, Gray became the first diplomat to visit Tripoli
in 2004.
In 2005, Gray served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs in the State Department, a position which he held until mid-2008. He then spent eleven months in Baghdad as a Senior Advisor to then-U.S. Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker. There, Gray spent much of his time traveling in the south of Iraq
assessing the reestablishment of governance and infrastructure in the southern provinces.
Gray was officially sworn in as the United States Ambassador to Tunisia
in August 2009, assuming his post the following month.
Foreign Service Officer
A Foreign Service Officer is a commissioned member of the United States Foreign Service. As diplomats, Foreign Service Officers formulate and implement the foreign policy of the United States. FSOs spend most of their careers overseas as members of U.S. embassies, consulates, and other diplomatic...
and career member of the Senior Foreign Service
Senior Foreign Service
The Senior Foreign Service comprises the top four ranks of the United States Foreign Service. These ranks were created by the Foreign Service Act of 1980 and Executive Order 12293 in order to provide the Foreign Service with senior grades equivalent to general- and flag ranks in the military and...
with the rank of Minister-Counselor. He is the U.S. Ambassador to Tunisia
United States Ambassador to Tunisia
The following is a list of United States Ambassadors to Tunisia.-Ambassadors:*Morris N. Hughes - Career FSO**Title: Chargé d'Affaires**Appointment: June 6, 1956**Presentation of Credentials: June 6, 1956...
, a post he has held since September 2009 after his appointment to the position by President Barack Obama.
Biography
Gordon Gray III was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1956. He attended Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, receiving a his B.A. in Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
in 1978. Gray later served in the Peace Corps
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...
in Oued Zim, Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
until 1980. He then attended Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, from which he graduated in 1982 with an M.A. in International Affairs
International affairs
International affairs may refer to:* Diplomacy* International relations* International Affairs Association* International Affairs , a peer-reviewed academic journal first published in 1924...
.
Gray began his Foreign Service
United States Foreign Service
The United States Foreign Service is a component of the United States federal government under the aegis of the United States Department of State. It consists of approximately 11,500 professionals carrying out the foreign policy of the United States and aiding U.S...
career in 1982. His first tours of duty included postings in Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
, Amman
Amman
Amman is the capital of Jordan. It is the country's political, cultural and commercial centre and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The Greater Amman area has a population of 2,842,629 as of 2010. The population of Amman is expected to jump from 2.8 million to almost...
, and Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
. He was appointed as Director of Counterterrorism Regional Affairs Office at the United States Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
in 1996 and held the post until 1999. He was then appointed as the Director of the Office of Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Operations from 1999 to 2001. Between 2002 and 2005, Gray served as the deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
. While holding this post, Gray became the first diplomat to visit Tripoli
Tripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
in 2004.
In 2005, Gray served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs in the State Department, a position which he held until mid-2008. He then spent eleven months in Baghdad as a Senior Advisor to then-U.S. Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker. There, Gray spent much of his time traveling in the south of Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
assessing the reestablishment of governance and infrastructure in the southern provinces.
Gray was officially sworn in as the United States Ambassador to Tunisia
United States Ambassador to Tunisia
The following is a list of United States Ambassadors to Tunisia.-Ambassadors:*Morris N. Hughes - Career FSO**Title: Chargé d'Affaires**Appointment: June 6, 1956**Presentation of Credentials: June 6, 1956...
in August 2009, assuming his post the following month.