Harry Keels Thomas Jr.[2] (born June 3, 1956) is an American diplomat who served as the U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Zimbabwe.
Education edit
Thomas is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross and earned his Master's of Science in Urban Planning at Columbia University. He also has an honorary doctorate from Loyola University Maryland, where he delivered the commencement address in May 2010.[3]
Career edit
Thomas joined the Foreign Service in 1984. His early postings included service in the US embassies in New Delhi, India; Harare, Zimbabwe; Kaduna, Nigeria; and Lima, Peru.[3] He also served as Executive Secretary of the United States Department of State, Director General of the U.S. Foreign Service, Director of the State Department Operations Center, and Special Assistant to the then-U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.[4]
Thomas served as United States Ambassador to Bangladesh (serving from 2003 to 2005) and Director General of the United States Foreign Service (serving from 2007 to 2009), Thomas was designated by US President Barack Obama on November 19, 2009, to replace Kristie Kenney as Ambassador to the Philippines—the first African American to serve at that post.[4] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 19, 2010,[3] and presented his credentials to Philippine president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on April 27, 2010.[5] He was then nominated and confirmed as the United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe on October 22, 2015.[6] He was sworn in on December 8, 2015.[7] He returned to the United States from Zimbabwe on March 25, 2018, planning to retire from the Foreign Service.[8]
Controversy edit
In September 2011, Thomas sparked outrage – while in post as Ambassador to the Philippines – by making the remark that "40% of male tourists to the Philippines go there for sex tourism", without publicly presenting evidence for this remark.[9] He subsequently made a public apology to the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines.
Foreign languages edit
Thomas speaks English, Spanish, Hindi, Tagalog, and Bengali.
Awards and honours edit
Foreign honours edit
Philippines:
Grand Cross (Datu) of the Order of Sikatuna (GrCS) (October 14, 2013)
References edit
- ^ Michael Reardon (2007). "THE PROFILE: Harry K. Thomas Jr., '78". Alumni/Advancement. Holy Cross Magazine. Retrieved 2009-11-23.
- ^ "Harry Keels Thomas Jr. (1956–)". U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian. October 16, 2013. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
- ^ a b c Press release (March 23, 2010). "U.S. Senate Confirms Nomination of Harry K. Thomas Jr. as Ambassador to the Republic of the Philippines" (PDF). Embassy of the United States of America, Manila. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-06-01. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
- ^ a b Agence France-Presse (November 20, 2009). "Obama names envoys to RP, Singapore". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 2009-11-23.
- ^ Beth Day Romulo (May 11, 2010). "Welcome to Ambassador Thomas". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on 2010-05-13. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
- ^ October 2015 Senate Periodical Press Gallery
- ^ ""Ambassador-Designate Harry K. Thomas Jr.", United States Department of State, December 23, 2015". Archived from the original on December 23, 2015. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
- ^ "US Ambassador snubs Mugabe". Southern Times. March 23, 2018. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
- ^ "US ambassador to Philippines apologises for sex tourism remark". The Guardian. October 8, 2011. Retrieved February 13, 2013.
External links edit
- Harry K. Thomas Jr. on Twitter
Media related to Harry K. Thomas, Jr. at Wikimedia Commons- US Department of State biography
