Sunday, May 08, 2011
A 20-year career diplomat and African affairs specialist, J. Thomas Dougherty received his first chance to serve as an ambassador in taking over the top post at the U.S. embassy in the West African nation of Burkina Faso. He was nominated by President Barack Obama on May 27, 2010, and confirmed by the Senate on August 10.
Originally from Casper, Wyoming, and a graduate of Brown University, Dougherty joined the Foreign Service in 1989. His overseas posts have included Cameroon, Germany, Eritrea, the Republic of the Congo, Saudi Arabia and Senegal.
He was deputy chief of mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo and in Malawi, followed by director for West African affairs at the State Department and acting deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of African Affairs.
He also served as minister-counselor for public affairs at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, prior to his appointment as ambassador to Burkina Faso.
Dougherty is married and has two children.
Odd as it may seem, the last U.S. ambassador to Burkina Faso, Jeanine Jackson, was also from Wyoming.
-Noel Brinkerhoff, David Wallechinsky
Official Biography (State Department)
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