Robert Stephen Ford
| Robert Stephen Ford | |
|---|---|
Ford (circa 2011)
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| United States Ambassador to Syria | |
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In office January 28, 2011 – February 28, 2014 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Maura Connelly |
| Succeeded by | Daniel Rubinstein (as Special Envoy) |
| United States Ambassador to Algeria | |
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In office May 30, 2006 – June 26, 2008 |
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| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Richard W. Erdman |
| Succeeded by | David D. Pearce |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1958 (age 58–59) |
| Spouse(s) | Alison Barkley |
| Children | Isaac |
| Alma mater | Johns Hopkins University |
| Profession | Diplomat, Career Ambassador |
Robert Stephen Ford (born 1958) is a retired American diplomat who served as the United States Ambassador to Algeria from 2006 to 2008 and the United States Ambassador to Syria from 2010 to 2014.
Ford is originally from Denver, Colorado, but is more recently a resident of Maryland.
In addition to English, Ford speaks German, Turkish, French, and Arabic.
A senior advisor to the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq once described Ford as being "regarded as one of the best Arabists in the State Department".
Ford is married to Alison Barkley, who is a fellow diplomat. The two have one child, Isaac.
A career member of the United States Foreign Service, he entered the service in 1985 and has been stationed in İzmir, Cairo, Algiers and Yaoundé.
Ford served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Bahrain from 2001 until 2004, and Political Counselor to the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad from 2004 until 2006.
He was nominated for the position of U.S. Ambassador to Algeria by U.S. President George W. Bush on April 13, 2006. The nomination was sent to the U.S. Senate on April 24 and confirmed on May 27. Ford was sworn in on August 11. He served in the Algiers post until June 26, 2008.
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