Mary A. Ryan
Encyclopedia
Mary A. Ryan is a retired United States
career diplomat
who served as United States Ambassador to Swaziland
from 1988 to 1990 and as Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs
from 1993 to 2002.
on October 1, 1940. She was educated at St. John's University, receiving a B.A.
in 1963 and an M.A.
in 1965.
Ryan joined the United States Foreign Service
in 1966. She was first assigned as a consular and administrative officer in Naples
, 1966 - 1969. She was assigned as personnel officer at the American Embassy in Tegucigalpa
, 1970 - 1971, and subsequently served as a consular officer at the American consulate general in Monterrey
.
In 1973 she was assigned as administrative officer in the Bureau of African Affairs
in Washington, D.C.
from 1973 to 1975, and as a post management officer in the Bureau of African Affairs, 1975 - 1977. From 1977 to 1980, she was a career development officer in the Bureau of Personnel.
In 1980, Ryan received French language
training, followed by assignments as administrative counselor in Abidjan
, 1980 - 1981, and Khartoum
, 1981 - 1982. From 1982 to 1983, she served as an inspector in the Office of the Inspector General in the Department of State, and Executive Director of the Bureau of European and Canadian Affairs, 1983 - 1985. In 1985, she became the Executive Assistant to the Under Secretary of State for Management, Ronald I. Spiers
.
On April 21, 1988, President of the United States
Ronald Reagan
nominated Ryan as United States Ambassador to Swaziland
; she subsequently presented her credentials on August 25, 1988 and left her post on January 24, 1990.
Returning to Washington, D.C. in 1990, Ambassador Ryan served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Consular Affairs
. Assigned as Director of the Kuwait
Task Force following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, she served in this capacity until her assignment to the United Nations
Special Commission on the Elimination of Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction
as the Commission's first Director of Operations. She returned from New York to take up her duties as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs.
In 1993, President Bill Clinton
nominated Ryan as Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs
and she held this office from May 12, 1993 until September 30, 2002, overseeing the creation of the Office of Children's Issues
in 1994.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
career diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
who served as United States Ambassador to Swaziland
United States Ambassador to Swaziland
This is a list of Ambassadors of the United States to Swaziland.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...
from 1988 to 1990 and as Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs
The Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs is the head of the Bureau of Consular Affairs within the United States Department of State. The Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs reports to the Under Secretary of State for Management...
from 1993 to 2002.
Biography
Mary A. Ryan was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on October 1, 1940. She was educated at St. John's University, receiving a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1963 and an M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in 1965.
Ryan joined the United States Foreign Service
United States Foreign Service
The United States Foreign Service is a component of the United States federal government under the aegis of the United States Department of State. It consists of approximately 11,500 professionals carrying out the foreign policy of the United States and aiding U.S...
in 1966. She was first assigned as a consular and administrative officer in Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, 1966 - 1969. She was assigned as personnel officer at the American Embassy in Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa , and commonly referred as Tegus , is the capital of Honduras and seat of government of the Republic, along with its twin sister Comayagüela. Founded on September 29, 1578 by the Spanish, it became the country's capital on October 30, 1880 under President Marco Aurelio Soto...
, 1970 - 1971, and subsequently served as a consular officer at the American consulate general in Monterrey
Monterrey
Monterrey , is the capital city of the northeastern state of Nuevo León in the country of Mexico. The city is anchor to the third-largest metropolitan area in Mexico and is ranked as the ninth-largest city in the nation. Monterrey serves as a commercial center in the north of the country and is the...
.
In 1973 she was assigned as administrative officer in the Bureau of African Affairs
Bureau of African Affairs
In the United States Government, the Bureau of African Affairs is part of the U.S. Department of State and is charged with advising the Secretary of State on matters of Sub-Saharan Africa. The bureau was established in 1958...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
from 1973 to 1975, and as a post management officer in the Bureau of African Affairs, 1975 - 1977. From 1977 to 1980, she was a career development officer in the Bureau of Personnel.
In 1980, Ryan received French language
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
training, followed by assignments as administrative counselor in Abidjan
Abidjan
Abidjan is the economic and former official capital of Côte d'Ivoire, while the current capital is Yamoussoukro. it was the largest city in the nation and the third-largest French-speaking city in the world, after Paris, and Kinshasa but before Montreal...
, 1980 - 1981, and Khartoum
Khartoum
Khartoum is the capital and largest city of Sudan and of Khartoum State. It is located at the confluence of the White Nile flowing north from Lake Victoria, and the Blue Nile flowing west from Ethiopia. The location where the two Niles meet is known as "al-Mogran"...
, 1981 - 1982. From 1982 to 1983, she served as an inspector in the Office of the Inspector General in the Department of State, and Executive Director of the Bureau of European and Canadian Affairs, 1983 - 1985. In 1985, she became the Executive Assistant to the Under Secretary of State for Management, Ronald I. Spiers
Ronald I. Spiers
Ronald Ian “Ron” Spiers was a former career diplomat and United States Ambassador.-Early life and military career:Spiers was born in Orange, New Jersey July 9, 1925 but grew up in Peru, London, Paris and Brussels. During World War II, he served as an Ensign in the United States Navy in the war's...
.
On April 21, 1988, President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
nominated Ryan as United States Ambassador to Swaziland
United States Ambassador to Swaziland
This is a list of Ambassadors of the United States to Swaziland.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...
; she subsequently presented her credentials on August 25, 1988 and left her post on January 24, 1990.
Returning to Washington, D.C. in 1990, Ambassador Ryan served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Consular Affairs
Bureau of Consular Affairs
The Bureau of Consular Affairs is a bureau of the United States Department of State within that department's management office. The mission of the Bureau is to administer laws, formulate regulations and implement policies relating to the broad range of consular services and immigration. , the...
. Assigned as Director of the Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
Task Force following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, she served in this capacity until her assignment to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Special Commission on the Elimination of Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction
Iraq and weapons of mass destruction
During the regime of Saddam Hussein, the nation of Iraq used, possessed, and made efforts to acquire weapons of mass destruction . Hussein was internationally known for his use of chemical weapons in the 1980s against Iranian and Kurdish civilians during and after the Iran–Iraq War...
as the Commission's first Director of Operations. She returned from New York to take up her duties as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs.
In 1993, President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
nominated Ryan as Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs
The Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs is the head of the Bureau of Consular Affairs within the United States Department of State. The Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs reports to the Under Secretary of State for Management...
and she held this office from May 12, 1993 until September 30, 2002, overseeing the creation of the Office of Children's Issues
Office of Children's Issues
The Office of Children's Issues is an agency of the Bureau of Consular Affairs, which in turn is part of the US Department of State. The Office of Children’s Issues was created in 1994 under the leadership of Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Mary Ryan and that of her successor...
in 1994.