7/28/2019 Bio for Ambassador Pamela E. Bridgewater CFA's Choice
for Assistant Secretary for African Affairs
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Bio for Ambassador Pamela E. Bridgewater
CFA's Choice for Assistant Secretary for African Affairs
Decision Due Soon!
Ambassador Pamela E. Bridgewater has led diplomatic efforts that
helped to change the course of
world events, including the distinction of being the
longest-serving U.S. diplomat in South Africa duringthe historic
transition from apartheid to a non-racial government. As the
political officer assigned to
cover Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress (ANC)
during the intense negotiationsleading up to the end of apartheid,
a former Ambassador to South Africa said "Bridgewater establisheda
degree of trust and confidence with Mr. Mandela and the ANC
leadership that the U.S. had notpreviously enjoyed."
She was equally welcomed as an honest broker with the rival
Inkatha Freedom Party during her tenureas Consul General in Durban,
South Africa in the volatile KwaZulu-Natal province. At the height
of themost recent civil war in Liberia, she was named Special
Coordinator for Peace in Liberia and helpedspearhead efforts that
led to a comprehensive peace agreement, reconstruction and
democraticelections.
Ambassador Bridgewater has championed strong mentoring and
diversity during her Foreign Servicecareer. She has continued
development and outreach efforts in Africa and throughout the
world. She
served as U.S. Ambassador to Benin from 2000-2002 and received
the National Order of Benin for herpersonal contributions to the
U.S.-Benin bilateral relationship.
A native of Fredericksburg, Virginia, she is a graduate of
Walker-Grant High School and received aBachelor of Arts degree in
political science from Virginia State University. She received a
Master ofArts degree in political science from the University of
Cincinnati and completed course work andadvanced to candidacy for
the PhD degree from the American University School of
InternationalService.
In June 2005, the United States Senate confirmed her as
Ambassador to the Republic of Ghana, thefirst African-American
woman to that post, after serving a year as Diplomat-in-Residence
at HowardUniversity. The government of Ghana awarded her the Order
of the Volta (Companion) for outstandingcontributions to
development. Ambassador Bridgewater also served as Deputy Assistant
Secretary ofState for African Affairs and was the first
African-American woman Principal Officer (Consul General)in Durban,
South Africa. Her former students have distinguished themselves as
Foreign Minister,State's Attorney General, Judges, academicians,
legal experts and authors.
She received honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from Virginia State
University and the University ofCincinnati; Morgan State University
awarded her an honorary Doctor of Public Service. Other
honorsinclude the Girl Scouts of Virginia Lifetime Achievement
Award, the Dominion Power Strong LeadersAward, the 100 Black
Women's Candace Award and numerous commendations for her
contributionsto international affairs and public policy.
Ambassador Bridgewater is the recipient of the U.S. Presidential
Meritorious Service Award, theCharles Cobb Award for Trade
Promotion and three Department of State Superior Honor Awards.
Sheis currently a Senior Inspector in the State Department's Office
of the Inspector General. Ambassador
Bridgewater holds the rank of Career Minister. Her foreign
language is French.
On July 12, 2010, President Obama nominated her to be the next
United States Ambassador toJamaica, and she appeared before the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee on July 29 for her
confirmation hearing. Ambassador Bridgewater has served in
Belgium, Jamaica and The Bahamas.Her Department of State
assignments were in the Bureaus of European Affairs, Oceans
andEnvironmental Affairs, and Intelligence and Research. She joined
the U.S. Foreign Service in 1980after a teaching career at Morgan
State University and Bowie State University in Maryland andVoorhees
College in South Carolina.
