List of ambassadors of the United States to Vanuatu

Ambassador of the United States to Vanuatu
Seal of the United States Department of State
Incumbent Ann M. Yastishock since April 16, 2024
Nominator	The President of the United States
Inaugural holder	Paul Fisher Gardner as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.
Formation	September 1986
Website	U.S. Embassy - Port Moresby

U.S. diplomatic terms
Career FSO After 1915, The United States Department of State began classifying ambassadors as career Foreign Service Officers (FSOs) for those who have served in the Foreign Service for a specified amount of time. Political appointee A person who is not a career foreign service officer, but is appointed by the president (often as a reward to political friends). Appointed The date that the ambassador took the oath of office; also known as "commissioning". It follows confirmation of a presidential appointment by the Senate, or a Congressional recess appointment by the president. In the case of a recess appointment, the ambassador requires subsequent confirmation by the Senate to remain in office. Presented credentials The date that the ambassador presented his letter of credence to the head of state or appropriate authority of the receiving nation. At this time the ambassador officially becomes the representative of his country. This would normally occur a short time after the ambassador's arrival on station. The host nation may reject the ambassador by not receiving the ambassador's letter, but this occurs only rarely. Terminated mission Usually the date that the ambassador left the country. In some cases a letter of recall is presented, ending the ambassador's commission, either as a means of diplomatic protest or because the diplomat is being reassigned elsewhere and replaced by another envoy. Chargé d'affaires The person in charge of the business of the embassy when there is no ambassador commissioned to the host country. Ad interim Latin phrase meaning "for the time being", "in the meantime".

U.S. diplomatic terms

Career FSO
After 1915, The United States Department of State began classifying ambassadors as career Foreign Service Officers (FSOs) for those who have served in the Foreign Service for a specified amount of time.

Political appointee
A person who is not a career foreign service officer, but is appointed by the president (often as a reward to political friends).

Appointed
The date that the ambassador took the oath of office; also known as "commissioning". It follows confirmation of a presidential appointment by the Senate, or a Congressional recess appointment by the president. In the case of a recess appointment, the ambassador requires subsequent confirmation by the Senate to remain in office.

Presented credentials
The date that the ambassador presented his letter of credence to the head of state or appropriate authority of the receiving nation. At this time the ambassador officially becomes the representative of his country. This would normally occur a short time after the ambassador's arrival on station. The host nation may reject the ambassador by not receiving the ambassador's letter, but this occurs only rarely.

Terminated mission
Usually the date that the ambassador left the country. In some cases a letter of recall is presented, ending the ambassador's commission, either as a means of diplomatic protest or because the diplomat is being reassigned elsewhere and replaced by another envoy.

Chargé d'affaires
The person in charge of the business of the embassy when there is no ambassador commissioned to the host country.

Ad interim
Latin phrase meaning "for the time being", "in the meantime".

Diplomatic presence of the United States of America in Vanuatu began in September 1986 when the latter established diplomatic ties with U.S. The United States Embassy in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea handles the U.S. interests in Vanuatu. In addition to Papua New Guinea, United States Ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to both Vanuatu and Solomon Islands.^[1]^[2]

Ambassadors


Name	Title	Appointed	Presented credentials	Terminated mission
Paul Fisher Gardner – Career FSO^[1]	Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary	September 7, 1984		October 1, 1986
Everett E. Bierman		March 13, 1987	April 10, 1987	October 30, 1989
Robert William Farrand – Career FSO		March 8, 1990	June 25, 1990	September 13, 1993
Richard W. Teare – Career FSO		October 8, 1993	July 11, 1994	July 14, 1996
Arma Jane Karaer – Career FSO		February 10, 1997	April 15, 1997	May 28, 2000
Susan S. Jacobs – Career FSO		June 14, 2000	November 29, 2000	August 1, 2003
Robert W. Fitts – Career FSO		July 1, 2003	October 3, 2003	October 2, 2006
Leslie V. Rowe – Career FSO		July 5, 2006	December 7, 2006	July 11, 2009
Teddy B. Taylor – Career FSO^[3]		August 12, 2009	February 2, 2010	October 6, 2012
Walter North – Career FSO		September 27, 2012	February 19, 2013	January 22, 2016
Catherine Ebert-Gray – Career FSO		December 15, 2015	July 5, 2016	November 17, 2019
Erin Elizabeth McKee – Career FSO		September 30, 2019	January 27, 2020^[4]	April 14, 2022
Ann M. Yastishock - Career FSO		November 29, 2023	April 16, 2024	Incumbent

Notes

^ ^a ^b "US Ambassador to Papua New Guinea. US GOVERNMENT OFFICE". Retrieved February 9, 2011.
^ "U.S. Embassy in Papua New Guinea. About the Embassy. Mission Overview". Retrieved February 9, 2011.
^ "U.S. Embassy in Papua New Guinea". Archived from the original on September 14, 2015. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
^ "U.S. Ambassador Erin Elizabeth McKee Presents Credentials to Solomon Islands Governor General". U.S. Embassy in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. January 27, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2022.

References

United States Department of State: Background notes on Vanuatu
This article incorporates public domain material from U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets. United States Department of State.