Robert S. Gilchrist


Robert S. Gilchrist is an American diplomat who is the United States Ambassador to Lithuania since 2019. He was appointed by President Donald Trump and confirmed by the United States Senate on December 20, 2019. Gilchrist is the third US Ambassador from the LGBT community nominated to serve by the Trump administration.

Early life and education

Gilchrist earned a Bachelor of Arts from Wake Forest University and a Master of Arts from the University of Virginia.

Career

Gilchrist was Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States Embassy in Sweden, Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States Embassy in Estonia, and the Director of Nordic and Baltic Affairs in the State Department’s Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs. Among his earlier assignments, he was Deputy Political Counselor at the United States Embassy in Iraq, Chief of the Political Section of the United States Embassy in Romania, and a Special Assistant in the Office of the Deputy Secretary of State.

United States Ambassador to Lithuania

On July 22, 2019, President Trump announced his intent to nominate Gilchrist to be the United States Ambassador to Lithuania. His nomination was sent to the Senate on August 1, 2019. Russian hostility was a central topic during his confirmation hearings. On December 19, 2019, his nomination was confirmed in the Senate by voice vote. Gilchrist is the fifth LGBT ambassador confirmed under the Trump administration. He presented his credentials to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda on February 4, 2020.

Personal life

He speaks Spanish, French, Estonian, and Romanian.