List of United States permanent representatives to NATO

American official; ambassador to NATO

The United States Permanent Representative to NATO (commonly called the U.S. Ambassador to NATO) is the official representative of the United States to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Permanent Representative of the United States to NATO
Seal of the United States Department of State
Incumbent
Julianne Smith

since December 6, 2021
NominatorThe President of the United States
Inaugural holderWilliam H. Draper, Jr.
as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
FormationApril 8, 1953
WebsiteU.S. Mission - NATO

Background

The Representative has the rank of full ambassador and is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The full official title of the Representative is United States Permanent Representative on the Council of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, with the rank and status of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.

The first Representative was appointed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953.

List

ImageAmbassadorDates served
William Henry Draper, Jr.April 8, 1953 – June 13, 1953
John Chambers HughesJune 12, 1953 – April 20, 1955
George Walbridge Perkins, Jr.March 14, 1955 – October 12, 1957
Warren Randolph BurgessSeptember 21, 1957 – March 23, 1961
Thomas K. FinletterMarch 2, 1961 – September 2, 1965
Harlan ClevelandSeptember 1, 1965 – June 11, 1969
Robert EllsworthMay 13, 1969 – June 30, 1971
David M. KennedyMarch 17, 1972 – February 1, 1973
Donald RumsfeldFebruary 2, 1973 – December 5, 1974
David K. E. BruceOctober 17, 1974 – February 12, 1976
Robert Strausz-HupéMarch 3, 1976 – April 20, 1977
William Tapley Bennett Jr.April 26, 1977 – March 31, 1983
David Manker AbshireJuly 13, 1983 – January 5, 1987
Alton G. Keel, Jr.March 13, 1987 – June 17, 1989
William Howard Taft IVAugust 3, 1989 – June 26, 1992
Reginald BartholomewJune 15, 1992 – March 25, 1993
Robert E. HunterJuly 1, 1993 – January 1, 1998
Alexander VershbowNovember 10, 1997 – July 9, 2001
R. Nicholas BurnsAugust 7, 2001 – March 7, 2005
Victoria NulandJuly 13, 2005 – May 2, 2008
Kurt VolkerJuly 2, 2008 – May 15, 2009
Ivo DaalderMay 15, 2009 – September 2, 2013
Douglas LuteSeptember 3, 2013 – January 20, 2017
Kay Bailey HutchisonAugust 28, 2017 – January 20, 2021
Julianne SmithDecember 6, 2021

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