List of ambassadors of the United States to Saudi Arabia


The United States ambassador to Saudi Arabia is the official representative of the president of the United States to the head of state of Saudi Arabia.
The United States recognized the government of King Ibn Saud in 1931, but it was not until 1939 when it appointed its first U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Bert Fish, then resident in Cairo and ambassador to Egypt. Fish made one trip down to Jeddah in 1940 to meet the King and present his credentials, but it was not until after his mission was terminated that a legation was established there on May 1, 1942.
The ambassador holds the title ''Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.''

Ambassadors

NameTitleAppointedPresented credentialsTerminated missionNotes
Bert Fish – Political appointeeEnvoy Extraordinary and Minister PlenipotentiaryAug 7, 1939Feb 4, 1940Feb 28, 1941The Legation in Jeddah was established on May 1, 1942, with James S. Moose, Jr., as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim.
Alexander C. Kirk – Career FSOEnvoy Extraordinary and Minister PlenipotentiaryFeb 21, 1941May 11, 1942Jul 18, 1943
James S. Moose Jr. – Career FSOMinister Resident/Foreign Service officerJun 4, 1943Jul 18, 1943Aug 18, 1944
William A. Eddy – Political appointeeEnvoy Extraordinary and Minister PlenipotentiaryAug 12, 1944Sep 23, 1944May 28, 1946
J. Rives Childs – Career FSOEnvoy Extraordinary and Minister PlenipotentiaryApr 27, 1946Jun 29, 1946Jul 21, 1950Promoted to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Raymond A. Hare – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiarySep 20, 1950Oct 24, 1950Jul 8, 1953
George Wadsworth – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryOct 21, 1953Jan 9, 1954Jan 1, 1958
Donald R. Heath – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryNov 27, 1957Jan 9, 1958Apr 18, 1961
Parker T. Hart – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryApr 6, 1961Jul 22, 1961May 29, 1965
Hermann F. Eilts – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryOct 20, 1965Jan 15, 1966Jul 23, 1970
Nicholas G. Thacher – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiarySep 8, 1970Sep 22, 1970Sep 19, 1973
James E. Akins – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiarySep 20, 1973Nov 7, 1973Feb 10, 1975
William J. Porter – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryDec 22, 1975Feb 21, 1976May 27, 1977
John C. West – Political appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryJun 8, 1977Jun 29, 1977Mar 21, 1981
Robert G. Neumann – Political appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryMay 20, 1981Jun 22, 1981Jul 16, 1981
Richard W. Murphy – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryAug 19, 1981Aug 29, 1981Aug 21, 1983
Walter L. Cutler – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryFeb 10, 1984Mar 31, 1984Jun 22, 1987On Sep 26, 1984, the U.S. Liaison Office in Riyadh was raised to the rank of embassy while the embassy in Jeddah became a consulate.
Hume Alexander Horan – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryJul 2, 1987Sep 22, 1987Apr 22, 1988
Walter L. Cutler – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryJul 15, 1988Aug 17, 1988Apr 30, 1989
Chas W. Freeman Jr. – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryJun 15, 1989Jan 14, 1990Aug 13, 1992
C. David WelchChargé d'Affaires ad interimAug 13, 1992N/AAug 1, 1994
Raymond Edwin Mabus Jr. – Political appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryJul 5, 1994Aug 1, 1994Apr 25, 1996
Wyche Fowler Jr. – Political appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryAug 9, 1996Sep 14, 1996Mar 1, 2001
Robert W. Jordan – Political appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryOct 5, 2001Jun 30, 2002Oct 13, 2003
James C. Oberwetter – Political appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryDec 11, 2003Oct 10, 2004Mar 31, 2007
Ford M. Fraker – Political appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryMarch 30, 2007September 2, 2007January 20, 2009
James B. Smith – Political appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiarySeptember 16, 2009October 31, 2009September 27, 2013
Joseph W. Westphal – Political appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryMarch 26, 2014March 28, 2014January 8, 2017
Christopher HenzelChargé d'Affaires ad interimJanuary 8, 2017N/AApril 17, 2019
John Abizaid – Political appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryApril 10, 2019June 16, 2019January 20, 2021
Martina A. StrongChargé d'Affaires ad interimJanuary 20, 2021N/AApril 16, 2023
Denison OffuttChargé d'Affaires ad interimApril 16, 2023N/AApril 27, 2023
Michael Alan Ratney - Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryMarch 14, 2023April 27, 2023January 20, 2025
Alison DilworthChargé d'Affaires ad interimJanuary 20, 2025N/AIncumbent