Sheila Gwaltney
{{Short description|American diplomat (born 1954)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Sheila Gwaltney
| image = Sheila Gwaltney 2015.jpg
| office = United States Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan
| president = Barack Obama
Donald Trump
| deputy = Alan Meltzer
| term_start = October 14, 2015
| term_end = August 2, 2017
| predecessor = Pamela L. Spratlen
| successor = John Bernlohr (chargé d'affaires)
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1954}}
| birth_place = Woodland, California, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| alma_mater = University of California, Davis
George Washington University
| caption = Official portrait, 2015
}}
Sheila S. Gwaltney (born 1954)[https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/gwaltney-sheila Sheila Gwaltney (1954–)]{{cite web|title=Gwaltney, Sheila S. - Kyrgyz Republic - October 2014|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/m/dghr/coc/2014/232789.htm|publisher=U.S. Department of State|date=October 2014|accessdate=November 22, 2015}} is a retired U.S. diplomat.
Early life and education
Gwaltney is from Woodland, California.{{cite web|title=U.S. Ambassador to the Kyrgyzstan: Who Is Sheila Gwaltney?|url=http://www.allgov.com/news/appointments-and-resignations/us-ambassador-to-the-kyrgyzstan-who-is-sheila-gwaltney-141123?news=854896|publisher=AllGov|date=November 23, 2014|accessdate=November 22, 2015}} Gwaltney earned a Bachelor of Arts in international relations at the University of California, Davis, and a Master's degree at George Washington University. Gwaltney speaks Russian, Ukrainian, and Spanish.
Career
Gwaltney joined the Department of State in 1984. Her overseas assignments have included Panama, Pretoria, and St. Petersburg. At the Department of State in Washington, D.C., she has also served as Deputy Director for the Office of Russian Affairs, Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, and Director of Country Affairs for Eurasia.{{cite web|title=U.S. Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan|url=http://bishkek.usembassy.gov/ambassador2.html|publisher=Embassy of the United States, Bishkek|accessdate=November 22, 2015}} During her Foreign Service career, Gwaltney also spent one year at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University as a National Security Affairs Fellow. She has also served as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. embassies in Bishkek (1999–2001), Kyiv (2004–2007), and Moscow (2011–2014).{{cite web|title=Richard M. Mills, Jr.|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/247947.htm|publisher=U.S. Department of State|date=August 20, 2015|accessdate=November 22, 2015}}
On August 28, 2014, President Barack Obama nominated Gwaltney to be the United States Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan. She was confirmed by the Senate about a year later, on August 5, 2015. She retired from that post in August 2017.
Gwaltney is the recipient of several Department of State Superior and Meritorious Honor Awards.
References
{{Reflist}}
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{{s-bef|before=Pamela Spratlen}}
{{s-ttl|title=United States Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan|years=2015–2017}}
{{s-aft|after=Donald Lu}}
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{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gwaltney, Sheila}}
Category:Ambassadors of the United States to Kyrgyzstan
Category:George Washington University alumni
Category:People from Woodland, California
Category:University of California, Davis alumni
Category:21st-century American diplomats
Category:United States Foreign Service personnel