Larry Miles Dinger
Encyclopedia
Ambassador Larry Miles Dinger (born 1946) was the U.S. chargé d'affaires
to Burma since his appointment on September 9, 2008. Since there has not been a United States Ambassador to Burma
since 1990, the chargé d'affaires is the chief of mission and the most senior official in the embassy.
(BA 1968), Harvard Law School
(JD 1975), and the National War College
(MA 2000).
After graduating from Macalester College in 1968, Ambassador Dinger entered the Naval Officer Candidate School, Newport, Rhode Island, and was commissioned as a Navy "line" officer in April 1969. He first served in Nha Be, Vietnam. His then served in the Fleet Operations Control Center Europe in London
, England, from 1970 to 1972.
After the Navy and law school, Ambassador Dinger worked in politics from 1975–1980, including on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee staff, ran for office in his home state of Iowa, and practiced law in 1981-82 as a sole practitioner in Riceville, Iowa before entering the Foreign Service in 1983.
(1992–95), Indonesia Desk Officer (1990–92), political officer at Embassy Jakarta
(1987–1990), Staff Assistant in the EAP Bureau (1985–86), and consular/narcotics affairs officer at Embassy Mexico City
(1983–85). The Department selected him to be a student at the National War College
in Washington, D.C., entering in August 1999 and graduating in June 2000.
From August 2004 to June 2005, he was the State Department's Senior Advisor to the Naval War College
in Newport, Rhode Island. His duties included mentoring the Foreign Service officers studying at the Naval War College, teaching a course on "strategy," and serving as liaison on political/military issues between Naval War College personnel and the State Department.
Dinger was U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of the Fiji
Islands, the Republic of Kiribati
, the Republic of Nauru
, the Kingdom of Tonga
, and Tuvalu
from July 2005 to June 2008.
Previously, he was U.S. Ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia
(2002–2004), Deputy Chief of Mission at U.S. Embassy Kathmandu (2001–2002), and Deputy Chief of Mission at U.S. Embassy Suva
(1996–1999).
Larry Dinger and his brother John R. Dinger
are believed to be the first concurrently serving career officer brother ambassadors. Larry was sworn in as ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia in December 2001 while his younger brother John was already ambassador to Mongolia.
Chargé d'affaires
In diplomacy, chargé d’affaires , often shortened to simply chargé, is the title of two classes of diplomatic agents who head a diplomatic mission, either on a temporary basis or when no more senior diplomat has been accredited.-Chargés d’affaires:Chargés d’affaires , who were...
to Burma since his appointment on September 9, 2008. Since there has not been a United States Ambassador to Burma
United States Ambassador to Burma
This is a list of Ambassadors of the United States to Burma. In 1989 the military government of Burma changed the name of the nation to Myanmar, but the United States government—and other Western governments—do not accept the name and still refer to the country as Burma in official usage.Burma...
since 1990, the chargé d'affaires is the chief of mission and the most senior official in the embassy.
Early life
Ambassador Dinger is a graduate of Macalester CollegeMacalester College
Macalester College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It was founded in 1874 as a Presbyterian-affiliated but nonsectarian college. Its first class entered September 15, 1885. The college is located on a campus in a historic residential neighborhood...
(BA 1968), Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
(JD 1975), and the National War College
National War College
The National War College of the United States is a school in the National Defense University. It is housed in Roosevelt Hall on Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., the third-oldest Army post still active. It was officially established on July 1, 1946, as an upgraded replacement for the...
(MA 2000).
After graduating from Macalester College in 1968, Ambassador Dinger entered the Naval Officer Candidate School, Newport, Rhode Island, and was commissioned as a Navy "line" officer in April 1969. He first served in Nha Be, Vietnam. His then served in the Fleet Operations Control Center Europe in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England, from 1970 to 1972.
After the Navy and law school, Ambassador Dinger worked in politics from 1975–1980, including on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee staff, ran for office in his home state of Iowa, and practiced law in 1981-82 as a sole practitioner in Riceville, Iowa before entering the Foreign Service in 1983.
Political career
In his early career, Dinger served as Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (1995–96), political officer at Embassy CanberraCanberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
(1992–95), Indonesia Desk Officer (1990–92), political officer at Embassy Jakarta
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
(1987–1990), Staff Assistant in the EAP Bureau (1985–86), and consular/narcotics affairs officer at Embassy Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
(1983–85). The Department selected him to be a student at the National War College
National War College
The National War College of the United States is a school in the National Defense University. It is housed in Roosevelt Hall on Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., the third-oldest Army post still active. It was officially established on July 1, 1946, as an upgraded replacement for the...
in Washington, D.C., entering in August 1999 and graduating in June 2000.
From August 2004 to June 2005, he was the State Department's Senior Advisor to the Naval War College
Naval War College
The Naval War College is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for naval warfare and passing them along to officers of the Navy. The college is located on the grounds of Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island...
in Newport, Rhode Island. His duties included mentoring the Foreign Service officers studying at the Naval War College, teaching a course on "strategy," and serving as liaison on political/military issues between Naval War College personnel and the State Department.
Dinger was U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of the Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
Islands, the Republic of Kiribati
Kiribati
Kiribati , officially the Republic of Kiribati, is an island nation located in the central tropical Pacific Ocean. The permanent population exceeds just over 100,000 , and is composed of 32 atolls and one raised coral island, dispersed over 3.5 million square kilometres, straddling the...
, the Republic of Nauru
Nauru
Nauru , officially the Republic of Nauru and formerly known as Pleasant Island, is an island country in Micronesia in the South Pacific. Its nearest neighbour is Banaba Island in Kiribati, to the east. Nauru is the world's smallest republic, covering just...
, the Kingdom of Tonga
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
, and Tuvalu
Tuvalu
Tuvalu , formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is a Polynesian island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, midway between Hawaii and Australia. Its nearest neighbours are Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa and Fiji. It comprises four reef islands and five true atolls...
from July 2005 to June 2008.
Previously, he was U.S. Ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia
Micronesia
Micronesia is a subregion of Oceania, comprising thousands of small islands in the western Pacific Ocean. It is distinct from Melanesia to the south, and Polynesia to the east. The Philippines lie to the west, and Indonesia to the southwest....
(2002–2004), Deputy Chief of Mission at U.S. Embassy Kathmandu (2001–2002), and Deputy Chief of Mission at U.S. Embassy Suva
Suva
Suva features a tropical rainforest climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city sees a copious amount of precipitation during the course of the year. Suva averages 3,000 mm of precipitation annually with its driest month, July averaging 125 mm of rain per year. In fact,...
(1996–1999).
Larry Dinger and his brother John R. Dinger
John R. Dinger
John R. Dinger currently serves as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research. He was the United States ambassador to Mongolia from October 19, 2000 to June 15, 2003. He was nominated by President Clinton on February 9, 2000 and...
are believed to be the first concurrently serving career officer brother ambassadors. Larry was sworn in as ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia in December 2001 while his younger brother John was already ambassador to Mongolia.