Dana Shell Smith

Dana Smith
United States Ambassador to Qatar
Assumed office
August 8, 2014
President Barack Obama
Preceded by Susan Ziadeh
Personal details
Born 1970 (age 45–46)
Spouse(s) Ray Smith
Alma mater University of California, San Diego

Dana Shell Smith (born 1970) is an American diplomat and career Foreign Service Officer currently serving as the United States Ambassador to Qatar. She was confirmed by the Senate as the U.S. Ambassador to Qatar on July 10, 2014.[1] Previously, she served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs from 2011 to 2014 and as Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Media.[2][3][4][5]

Early life and education

In 1992, she graduated from the University of California at San Diego with a bachelor's degree in political science and Middle East studies.[6]

Career

Smith presented her credentials to Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on September 8, 2014. Smith was confirmed by the Senate as the U.S. Ambassador to Qatar on July 10, 2014. Previously, she served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs from 2011 to 2014 and as Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Media.[7]

Prior to her assignments in the Bureau of Public Affairs, Smith was the State Department's Regional Arabic Language Spokesperson in Dubai. She served in a number of positions including as Senior Advisor to the Director General and overseas tours of duty in Taipei, Amman, Tel Aviv/Gaza, and Cairo.[2][6]

Personal life

Smith speaks Arabic, Chinese, Spanish and Hebrew. She is married to Diplomatic Security Officer Ray Smith and they have two children.[2]

Publications

"How to Have an Insanely Demanding Job and 2 Happy Children," The Atlantic, 27 June 2012, http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/06/how-to-have-an-insanely-demanding-job-and-2-happy-children/259006/

"US-Qatar Relations: Realizing the Full Potential of a Growing Strategic Partnership," The Ambassadors Review, Spring 2015, https://www.americanambassadors.org/publications/ambassadors-review/spring-2015/us-qatar-relations-realizing-the-full-potential-of-a-growing-strategic-partnership

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Dana Shell Smith". congress.gov. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "Chief of Mission Biography at U.S. Embassy Doha". usembassy.gov. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  3. ↑ "American Couple Detained In Qatar Allowed To Return Home". npr.org. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  4. ↑ "Exonerated in Qatar, American Couple Head Home". nytimes.com. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  5. ↑ "US exports to Qatar crossed $5bn in 2014". qatarisbooming.com. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  6. 1 2 "U.S. Ambassador to Qatar: Who Is Dana Shell Smith?". allgov.com. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  7. ↑ Jillian C. York. "Why is the State Department Tweeting in Arabic? A Conversation with Dana Shell Smith". jilliancyork.com. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
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Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
Susan Ziadeh		 United States Ambassador to Qatar
2014–present 		Incumbent
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