List of ambassadors of the United States to Mongolia

Ambassador of the United States to Mongolia
Seal of the United States Department of State
Incumbent Richard L. Buangan since November 17, 2022
Nominator	The President of the United States
Appointer	The President with Senate advice and consent
Inaugural holder	Steven Mann as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim
Formation	Apr 17, 1988
Website	U.S. Embassy - Ulaanbaatar

This is a list of United States ambassadors to Mongolia. The United States established diplomatic relations with then-People's Republic of Mongolia on January 27, 1987. The embassy in Ulaanbaatar was opened Apr 17, 1988, with Steven Mann as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim. Richard Llewellyn Williams was the first ambassador to the Republic, and resided in the District of Columbia. The current Mongolian ambassador to the United States is Batbayar Ulziidelger, who succeeded Otgonbayar Yondon when he presented credentials on December 1, 2021. The U.S. maintains its embassy in Ulaanbaatar.^[1]^[2]

Ambassadors

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".

Name	Career status	Presentation of credentials	Termination of mission	Comment
Richard Llewellyn Williams	Foreign Service officer	11-Jul-1988	27-June-1990
Joseph Edward Lake	Foreign Service officer	27-June-1990	30-Aug-1993
Donald C. Johnson	Foreign Service officer	02-Aug-1993	16-Aug-1996
Llewellyn Hedgbeth	Foreign Service officer	Aug-26-1996	Dec-1997	Chargé d'Affaires ad interim^[3]
Alphonse F. La Porta	Foreign Service officer	24-Oct-1997	03-Nov-2000
John R. Dinger	Foreign Service officer	14-Jun-2000	20-Jan-2003
Pamela J. H. Slutz	Foreign Service officer	04-Sep-2003	08-Sep-2006
Mark C. Minton	Foreign Service officer	20-Sep-2006	21-Sep-2009
Jonathan Addleton	Foreign Service officer	09-Nov-2009	1-Aug-2012
Piper Campbell	Foreign Service officer	24-Aug-2012	07-Aug-2015
Jennifer Zimdahl Galt	Foreign Service officer	05-Oct-2015	10-Nov-2017^[4]
Michael S. Klecheski	Foreign Service officer	22-Feb-2019^[5]	24-Sep-2022
Richard L. Buangan	Foreign Service Officer	November 17, 2022	Present

References

^ "US Ambassador to Mongolia".
^ United States Department of State State Dep't List
^ Hanna, Jeff (December 21, 2011). "Quite a Career". The Columns. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
^ "U.S. Ambassador Galt to Depart Mongolia". U.S. Department of State. November 3, 2017. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
^ "The U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia Michael S. Klecheski presented his credentials today". U.S. Department of State. February 22, 2019. Retrieved April 6, 2019.

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