Benjamin “Ben” Graham was named ambassador to the United States on April 6, 2008. He replaced Banny de Brum who had held the position for 12 years. Graham, who graduated from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. in 2005 with an MBA, is 35 years old and has no diplomatic experience. He has worked as an advisor to the Marshall Islands government, general manager of the Visitors Authority and as a consultant for the Asian Development Bank.