List of ambassadors of the United States to Ireland


The United States Ambassador to Ireland is the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary from the United States of America to Ireland. It is considered a highly prestigious position within the United States Foreign Service. The current ambassador is Edward F. Crawford.
The chief of mission for the United States in Ireland held the title of envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary from 1927 through 1950, and six people served in the role. Since 1950, the title has been ambassador, and 23 people have served in the role. Only the first envoy, Frederick A. Sterling, was a career Foreign Service Officer – other envoys, and all ambassadors to date, have been non-career appointees. The first four envoys were commissioned to the Irish Free State, prior to the formation of the State.
The ambassador and embassy staff at large work at the Ballsbridge Chancery of the Embassy of the United States, Dublin. Deerfield Residence is the official residence of the ambassador, located in the Phoenix Park, Dublin.

Incumbent

The position was vacant from January 2017 through the end of June 2019, with Reece Smyth serving as the chargé d'affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Ireland. The prior ambassador, Kevin O'Malley, was nominated by President Barack Obama and served from October 2014 until the presidential inauguration of Donald Trump. In December 2016, it was reported that then president-elect Trump intended to name Brian P. Burns as the next ambassador to Ireland. However, in June 2017, Burns withdrew his name from consideration, due to ill health.
Edward F. Crawford, a businessman and entrepreneur from Ohio whose parents were from Cork, was approved to be the next ambassador by the Senate's foreign relations committee in May 2019, confirmed by a vote of the United States Senate on June 13, 2019, and sworn into office on June 26, 2019. He officially began his term as ambassador upon presentation of his credentials to President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins on July 1, 2019.

Chiefs of Mission

Envoys

Until 1950, the official title was Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.
No.NameAppointedPresentation
of Credentials		Termination
of Mission		Days in
Office		Notes
1Frederick A. SterlingFebruary 19, 1927July 27, 1927March 7, 1934
2W. W. McDowellJanuary 15, 1934March 27, 1934April 9, 1934
3Alvin Mansfield OwsleyMay 15, 1935June 27, 1935July 7, 1937
4John CudahyMay 28, 1937August 23, 1937January 15, 1940
5David GrayFebruary 16, 1940April 15, 1940June 28, 1947
6George A. GarrettApril 10, 1947July 28, 1947April 18, 1950

Ambassadors

Since 1950, the official title has been Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.
No.NameAppointedPresentation
of Credentials		Termination
of Mission		Days in
Office		Notes
1March 17, 1950April 18, 1950May 27, 1951
2July 6, 1951October 22, 1951September 7, 1952
3April 2, 1953May 13, 1953June 25, 1957
4May 9, 1957July 17, 1957March 15, 1961
5March 29, 1961May 17, 1961July 7, 1962
6July 12, 1962July 19, 1962June 7, 1964
7March 11, 1965April 28, 1965June 7, 1968
8September 26, 1968November 1, 1968June 1, 1969
9April 19, 1969June 23, 1969June 30, 1975
10July 23, 1975September 18, 1975May 2, 1977
11June 22, 1977July 20, 1977June 7, 1981
12March 15, 1982April 30, 1982January 15, 1984
13February 28, 1984March 6, 1984May 29, 1985
14December 17, 1985January 30, 1986August 20, 1989
15August 7, 1989September 19, 1989June 15, 1992
16June 15, 1992June 26, 1992June 5, 1993
17June 17, 1993June 24, 1993September 17, 1998
18October 22, 1998January 21, 1999June 20, 2001
19August 29, 2001September 10, 2001January 31, 2003
20October 6, 2003October 31, 2003August 13, 2006
21August 28, 2006October 18, 2006January 22, 2009
22July 1, 2009July 3, 2009December 14, 2012
23September 18, 2014October 8, 2014January 20, 2017
24June 13, 2019July 1, 2019—

Other nominees

Appointed or nominated, but did not serve.
Interim chiefs of mission.