Having handled diplomatic duties in countries around the world, Michael S. Owen received his first ambassadorship on the continent of Africa. Owen, a career member of the Foreign Service, took over as ambassador to Sierra Leone on August 16, 2010. 

 

Born September 15, 1951, in Memphis, Owen received his Bachelor of Arts degree in civil engineering from Rice University in 1973 and a master’s in public affairs from Princeton University in 1975.

 

His early Foreign Service assignments included serving as economic officer in Colombo, Sri Lanka, as political economic officer in Nouakchott, Mauritania, desk officer for Rwanda and Burundi, counselor for economic affairs in Accra, Ghana, and watch officer in the State Department’s Operations Center. Owen also has served in Karachi, Pakistan, and Dublin, Ireland.

 

Eventually, Owen received leadership assignments, such as deputy chief of mission and chargé d’affaires at the U.S. embassy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and as consul general at the U.S. Consulate General in Mumbai, India.

 

Before becoming ambassador to Sierra Leone, Owen was office director for India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Maldives at the State Department and later acting deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs.

 

Owen and his wife, Annerieke Owen-Huisman, have a son, Bredan, and a daughter, Sigrid. Owen speaks French and Dutch.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

Official Biography (State Department)

Statement Before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations (pdf)