Folmsbee, Paul Arthur, 1960-

Paul Arthur Folmsbee (born June 3, 1960) is the former U.S. Ambassador to Mali. Folmsbee was nominated to be Ambassador to the Republic of Mali by President Barack Obama on September 18, 2014 and confirmed by the United States Senate on May 23, 2015. He left this post in January 2019.

Folmsbee spent most of his career in the developing world and served in many conflict zones including Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Haiti and Mali. He specialised on economic and social development as well as civilian roles in conflict zones. In 2011-12 he served as the Senior Civilian Representative for Regional Command East, Afghanistan (embedded with the 1st Cavalry at Bagram), Consul General, Mumbai, India (2008–2011) during the period of the Mumbai terrorist attacks, and in 2007-8 as the Provincial Reconstruction Team Leader for Sadr City and Adhamiya, Iraq where he negotiated with representatives of Moqtada al Sadr while embedded with the US Army's 2/82 Airborne. He also served as the Embassy Director of counter narcotics and law enforcement programs in Pakistan (2006-7) and in Port-au-Prince, Haiti during a period a major unrest (2003-6) as well as earlier assignments in Sri Lanka, Bolivia, Kenya, Tanzania and Washington.

Born in New York State, Folmsbee was raised in India and Mexico. Intending to go into aviation, Folmsbee attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He later transferred to Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kansas where he would earn a B.A. in Political Science. He then matriculated to the University of Oklahoma-Norman where he earned an M.A. in Social Anthropology. He is the recipient of five Department of State Superior Honor Awards, five Meritorious Honor Awards and a medal from the Polish Government for service in Afghanistan working with Polish troops. He is married to Angelika Chin who is from Jamaica. They have four grown children between them.

In 2003, Folmsbee published a novel, Flight of the Feathered Serpent, about two Icelanders who are shipwrecked in 12th century Mexico. He speaks Spanish and French.