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Pamela J. H. Slutz

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Pamela J. H. Slutz
United States Ambassador to Burundi
In office
2009–2012
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byPatricia Moller
Succeeded byDawn M. Liberi
United States Ambassador to Mongolia
In office
2003–2006
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byJohn R. Dinger
Succeeded byMark C. Minton
Personal details
Born (1949-01-13) January 13, 1949 (age 75)
SpouseRonald J. Deutch[1]
ProfessionDiplomat, Ambassador

Pamela Jo Howell Slutz (born January 13, 1949)[2] was a career member of the United States Foreign Service who served as U.S. Ambassador to Burundi, and as U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia.[3] Over the course of her career, she has also served in various diplomatic posts in Kenya, Taiwan, Indonesia, and China. She was the recipient of two U.S. Department of State Superior Honor Awards and the Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Executive. After retiring in 2012, Slutz continued to work part-time for the Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of State. From 2019 to 2024 she served as president of The Mongolia Society.

Early life and education

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Born in Chicago, Illinois, Pamela Slutz moved to Washington when her father joined the United States Department of State Bureau of Intelligence and Research in 1952. Her father, Robert Fleming Slutz Jr., joined the Foreign Service and was posted overseas.[4] From the ages of 7 to 15, Pamela attended the International School Bangkok in Thailand.[5] During her college years, she visited her parents in Indonesia.[6] A native English speaker, her second languages include French, Indonesian, and Mandarin.[5]

Pamela Slutz is an alumna of Hollins University (BA, Politics 1970) where she participated in the Hollins Abroad Program in Paris in 1968–69. She also holds an MA in Asian Studies with specialization in Indonesian studies (1972) from the University of Hawai'i, where she was an East–West Center Fellow.[7] She is the recipient of the Hollins University Distinguished Alumnae Award (2010).[8] As one of fifty East-West Center alumni featured in the Center's Fiftieth Anniversary publication, "50 Years, 50 Stories", Slutz was quoted as saying, "My heart has always been in Asia."[6]

Career

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After joining the U.S. Department of State in 1981, she served overseas at U.S. embassies in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) (1982–84) and Jakarta, Indonesia (1984–87).[9][6] She worked in the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Political Military Affairs from 1987 to 1989, where she served as a member of the U.S. Delegation to the Nuclear and Space Talks with the USSR in Geneva.[5] In 1988–1989, Slutz was nominated by the State Department to be an MIT Seminar XXI Fellow.[10]

The stamp from the former U.S. Embassy in Taipei was donated by Slutz to the National Museum of American Diplomacy

From 1991 to 1994 she was assigned to the U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai, where she was Acting Consul General from May to October 1994. From 1995 to 1997 she was deputy director of the U.S. Department of State Office of Chinese and Mongolian Affairs, the first woman to hold that position. Between 1997 and 1999 she was director of the Office of Regional and Security Policy in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. She returned to Jakarta, Indonesia for a second tour as the Chief of the Political Section (1999–2001).[9] She was Acting Director of the American Institute in Taiwan, Taipei from 2001 to 2002, and Deputy Director until 2003, the first woman to hold those positions.[11][12]

Slutz with former President Punsalmaagiin Ochirbat in 2018

President George W. Bush nominated her to be U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia (2003–2006),[13][14] the first woman to hold that position.[15] As Ambassador to Mongolia, Slutz hosted the first-ever visits to Mongolia by a sitting president and first lady (President and Mrs. George W. Bush).[6] She also hosted the first-ever visits to Mongolia by a secretary of defense (Donald Rumsfeld), and a speaker of the House (Dennis Hastert) — and the second-ever visit by a secretary of state (Condoleezza Rice). In addition, she was instrumental in channeling assistance to the first-ever shelter for abused women in Ulaanbaatar,[16][17] advocated for Mongolia to reduce its dependence on foreign aid,[18] and shared the nature of Mongolia and North Korea interactions.[19] In April 2015, Slutz was awarded the Order of the Polar Star, the highest honor bestowed on non-Mongolian citizens by the President of Mongolia.[20]

Slutz then served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya (2006–2009).[6] While posted in Nairobi, she climbed to the summit of Mount Kenya.[6] She was then nominated by President Barack Obama to be the U.S. Ambassador to Burundi (2009–2012).[21] In mid-2010, Slutz and her embassy staff supported and monitored the first democratic elections in Burundi since 1993.[6]

She was the recipient of the Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Executive (2011) and two Department of State Superior Honor Awards (1999 and 2009).[22] After retiring, Slutz served on the board of directors of the North America-Mongolia Business Council (NAMBC), including as its chairman from 2013–2016;[20] and, in March 2019, was elected President of The Mongolia Society.[23]

Personal life

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Slutz is married to Ronald J. Deutch,[1] a retired Foreign Service Officer.[5]

Selected publications

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  • Freeman, Patrick J.; Slutz, Pamela J. H. (October 2006). "Mongolia at 800: A New Era on the Steppe". State Magazine. p. 15. Retrieved 2002-06-06.
  • Slutz, Pamela J.; Goldbeck, Brian J. (August 2020). "President Bush's 2005 Mongolia Visit | American Diplomacy Est 1996". American Diplomacy. Retrieved June 1, 2022.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Executive Reports of Committees" (PDF). Congressional Record, 111th Congress, 1st Session. 155 (115). United States Congress. July 28, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 7, 2020.
  2. ^ Ancestor Book I for Pamela Jo Howell Slutz
  3. ^ "Personnel Announcement". March 14, 2003. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  4. ^ "Robert Fleming Slutz Jr". State Magazine (546). June 2010 – via Internet Archive.
  5. ^ a b c d "Pamela J. Slutz: Ambassador to Burundi". Mālamalama. October 28, 2011. Retrieved June 6, 2022 – via University of Hawaii.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g "East-West Center: 50 Years 50 Stories" (PDF). East–West Center. Honolulu. 2010. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  7. ^ "University of Hawaii at Manoa Asian Studies Asian Studies Graduates MA 1971--1979". Archived from the original on July 25, 2008. Retrieved November 24, 2008.
  8. ^ "Alumnae Accomplishments". Hollins Alumnae. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
  9. ^ a b "Name: Slutz, Pamela". AllGov. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  10. ^ "Pamela Slutz". MIT Seminar XXII: Educating U.S. National Security Leaders. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  11. ^ "Alumnae Firsts". Hollins University. Archived from the original on February 11, 2020. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  12. ^ Speckart, Kathryn (September 2016). "Keys to the past: artifacts open memories' doors". State Magazine (615) – via Gale Academic OneFile.
  13. ^ "President picks Slutz from Taiwan institute as Mongolia liaison". The Charleston Gazette; Charleston, W.V. [Charleston, W.V]. March 15, 2003. pp. 7C – via ProQuest.
  14. ^ "PRESIDENT BUSH SELECTS AMBASSADOR". The Stuart News; Stuart, Fla. May 19, 2003. pp. C1 – via ProQuest.
  15. ^ US State Department
  16. ^ University of Hawaii Archived 2008-07-25 at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ Sexton, Patricia (2013). Live from Mongolia : from Wall Street banker to Mongolian news anchor. Internet Archive. New York, NY : Beaufort Books. pp. 164–165. ISBN 978-0-8253-0657-0.
  18. ^ Duong, Cassie (June 13, 2006). "Mongolia Must Reduce Dependence on Foreign Aid, U.S. Envoy Says: Pamela Slutz says strengthening rule of law will help attract foreign investment". State Department Documents / FIND; Washington – via ProQuest.
  19. ^ Pocha, Jehangir S. (March 18, 2005). "A softer approach to North Korea Mongolia offers itself as a model for change". International Herald Tribune. p. 1 – via ProQuest.
  20. ^ a b "NAMBC Chairman Pamela Slutz is awarded Order of the Polar Star". www.nambc.org. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  21. ^ "President Obama Announces More Ambassadorial Nominations: Presidential nominations sent to Senate for confirmation". State Department Documents. June 11, 2009 – via ProQuest.
  22. ^ "Pamela Jo Howell Slutz". Hollins. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  23. ^ "About". The Mongolia Society. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia
2003–2006 		Succeeded by
Preceded by U.S. Ambassador to Burundi
2009–2012 		Succeeded by
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