Tamlyn, Lucy, 1955-

<p>Lucy Tamlyn was sworn in as U.S. Ambassador to the Central African Republic on January 11, 2019. A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, she most recently served as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Benin. She has also served as Director in the Office of the Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan in the Department of State, Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy, Lisbon, Portugal; Economic Counselor, U.S. Mission to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Paris, France; Provincial Reconstruction Team Leader, Erbil, Iraq; and Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy, N’Djamena, Chad. She has served at U.S. Missions to the United Nations in New York, Rome and Vienna, and has also had assignments in Brazil, Mozambique, Colombia, and Washington.</p>

<p>Ambassador Tamlyn earned a B.A. from Saint John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland and a Master’s Degree from Columbia University’s School of International Affairs in New York.</p>

<p>Lucy Tamlyn (born 1955) is a U.S. diplomat and the current United States Ambassador to the Central African Republic. President Donald Trump nominated her in July 2018 and she was confirmed in January 2019.</p>

<p>Tamlyn is from New York City. Her father, Thomas Tamlyn, was a cardiologist who served in 1969 on the SS Hope, a ship that brought medical support to underserved areas. Her mother, Ann Donaldson Tamlyn, later ran unsuccessfully for Congress from Maryland.</p>

<p>Tamlyn was an undergraduate at St. John’s College Annapolis, Maryland. She graduated in 1978. Tamlyn then completed her M.A. at Columbia University's School of International Affairs in 1980.</p>

<p>Tamlyn joined the Foreign Service in 1982. In her early career she held assignments in Austria, Colombia, and Mozambique. She served as a political officer in Brazil and represented the U.S. to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture in Rome. From 2005 to 2008 Tamlyn served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in N’Djamena, Chad. She then became Provincial Reconstruction Team Leader in Erbil, Iraq from 2008 to 2009. She served in Lisbon, Portugal, as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy.</p>

<p>Just prior to her nomination as Ambassador to Benin, Tamlyn was Director of the Office of the U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan. She was nominated by President Obama on March 24, 2015 and confirmed by the Senate October 8, 2015. Her term began October 13, 2015 and she presented her credentials on November 8, 2015. In July 2018, President Donald Trump nominated her to be the next United States Ambassador to the Central African Republic. She left her post as Ambassador to Benin in October 2018. She was later confirmed by voice vote on January 2, 2019 and sworn in as Ambassador to the Central African Republic on January 11, 2019. Tamlyn presented her credentials to President Faustin-Archange Touadéra on February 6, 2019.</p>

<p>Tamlyn is married to author Jorge M. Serpa of Portugal, and they have two children. In addition to English, she speaks French and Portuguese.</p>

<p>Lucy Tamlyn, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, is currently the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, a position she has held since 2015. During 36 years in the Foreign Service, she has also served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Portugal (2011-2013) and in Chad (2005-2008). With additional broad experience at U.S. Missions to the United Nations and its specialized agencies, as Economic Counselor at the U.S. Mission to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (2009-2010) and as a Provincial Reconstruction Leader in Erbil, Iraq (2008-2009), she has demonstrated her ability to lead and manage U.S Missions overseas as well as a strong background in economics, development, crisis management and regional expertise. Her skills and experience make her an excellent candidate for U.S. Ambassador to the Central African Republic.</p>

<p>Ambassador Tamlyn also served the Department of State as Director, Office of the Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, Bureau of African Affairs (2013-2015), Alternate Permanent Representative, Deputy Director, ECOSOC Section, U.S. Mission to the UN, New York (2003-2005), Alternate Permanent Representative, U.S. Mission to the UN Agencies for Food and Agriculture, Rome, Italy (2000-2003) and Political Officer, U.S. Consulate Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (1997-2000). She was Alternate Permanent Representative, U.S. Mission to the United Nations, New York (1995-1997), International Relations Officer, Bureau of Economic & Business Affairs (1993-1995), Economic/Commercial Officer, U.S. Embassy Maputo, Mozambique (1990-1992) and Alternate Permanent Representative, U.S. Mission to the UN Agencies in Vienna, Austria (1987-1990). She was enrolled in Economics Training at the Foreign Service Institute (1986-1987). She also served as International Relations Officer, Bureau of International Organization Affairs and Vice Consul, U.S. Embassy Bogota, Colombia.</p>

<p>Ambassador Tamlyn earned a B.A. from St. John’s College, Annapolis, Maryland and a M.A from Columbia University School of International Affairs. She is the recipient of notable State Department awards, including the Secretary’s Award for Expeditionary Service. Ambassador Tamlyn speaks French and Portuguese.</p>