List of ambassadors of the United States to Eswatini


This is a list of ambassadors of the United States to Eswatini.
By direction of King Mswati III, the English language form of his country's name was changed from Swaziland to Eswatini in 2018. Diplomatic missions were officially notified of this new name on May 18, 2018, and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names approved the new country name "Eswatini" or "Kingdom of Eswatini" on May 25, 2018 for U.S. government communications and documentation.
After the Second Boer War of 1899–1902, Swaziland became a British protectorate and thus came under the hegemony of the British Empire. In the early years of colonial rule, the British had expected that Swaziland would eventually be incorporated into South Africa. After World War II, however, South Africa’s racial policies induced the United Kingdom to prepare Swaziland for independence. In 1966, the UK Government agreed to discuss a new constitution, and Swaziland became independent on September 6, 1968.
The United States immediately recognized the new nation and established an embassy in the capital Mbabane on September 6, 1968, independence day for Swaziland. Chris C. Pappas, Jr., was appointed as chargé d'affaires ad interim pending the appointment of an ambassador. The first ambassador, Charles J. Nelson was appointed on June 9, 1971. He was accredited to Swaziland, Lesotho, and Botswana while resident in Gaborone, Botswana.
WWW swaziland.usembassy.gov

Ambassadors

  • Note: Chris C. Pappas, Jr. served as chargé d'affaires September 1968–April 1969. Robert W. Chase served in that capacity, April 1969–August 1971.
NameTitleAppointedPresented credentialsTerminated missionNotes
Charles J. Nelson – Political appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryJune 9, 1971November 3, 1971March 2, 1974One ambassador, resident at Gaborone, was accredited to Botswana, Swaziland, and Lesotho.
David B. Bolen – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryFebruary 28, 1974April 22, 1974August 11, 1976One ambassador, resident at Gaborone, was accredited to Botswana, Swaziland, and Lesotho.
Donald R. Norland – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryNovember 17, 1976February 23, 1978September 8, 1979In 1979 the first ambassador was appointed solely for Swaziland.
Richard Cavins Matheron – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryNovember 27, 1979March 11, 1980May 26, 1982
Robert H. Phinny – Political appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryAugust 17, 1982January 12, 1983September 5, 1984
Harvey Frans Nelson, Jr. – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryAugust 1, 1985October 14, 1985July 29, 1988
Mary A. Ryan – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryJuly 11, 1988August 25, 1988January 24, 1990
Stephen H. Rogers – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryOctober 22, 1990November 15, 1990November 19, 1993
John T. Sprott – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryAugust 9, 1993February 17, 1994August 1, 1996
Alan R. McKee – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryJuly 2, 1996October 11, 1996July 12, 1999
Gregory Lee Johnson – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryNovember 16, 1999February 3, 2000October 18, 2001
James D. McGee – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryJanuary 30, 2002February 21, 2002August 10, 2004
Lewis W. Lucke – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryJuly 2, 2004August 26, 2004July 22, 2006
Maurice S. Parker – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryJuly 20, 2007September 21, 2007June 12, 2009
Earl M. Irving – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryJuly 31, 2009August 27, 2009August 27, 2012
Makila James - Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryAugust 27, 2012September 20, 2012February 5, 2016
Lisa J. Peterson - Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryNovember 19, 2015February 5, 2016December 1, 2020
Jeanne Maloney - Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryDecember 9, 2020March 4, 2021December 20, 2022
Caitlin Piper - Career FSOChargé d'Affairs ad interimDecember 20, 2022January 26, 2023
Earl R. Miller – Career FSOChargé d'Affairs ad interimJanuary 27, 2023October 27, 2023
Caitlin Piper - Career FSOChargé d'Affairs ad interimOctober 27, 2023August 12, 2025
Marc Weinstock - Career FSOChargé d'Affairs ad interimAugust 13, 2025Incumbent