This is a list of ambassadors of the United States to Eswatini (formerly Swaziland).
By direction of King Mswati III, the English language form of his country's name was changed from Swaziland to Eswatini in 2018. Diplomatic missions were officially notified of this new name on May 18, 2018, and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names approved the new country name "Eswatini" (short-form) or "Kingdom of Eswatini" (long-form) on May 25, 2018 for U.S. government communications and documentation.
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 incorporated into South Africa. After World War II, however, South Africa’s racial policies induced the United Kingdom to prepare Swaziland for independence. In 1966, the UK Government agreed to discuss a new constitution, and Swaziland became independent on September 6, 1968.
The United States immediately recognized the new nation and established an embassy in the capital Mbabane on September 6, 1968, independence day for Swaziland. Chris C. Pappas, Jr., was appointed as chargé d'affaires ad interim pending the appointment of an ambassador. The first ambassador, Charles J. Nelson was appointed on June 9, 1971. He was accredited to Swaziland, Lesotho, and Botswana while resident in Gaborone, Botswana.
Ambassadors Note: Chris C. Pappas, Jr. served as chargé d'affaires September 1968–April 1969. Robert W. Chase served in that capacity, April 1969–August 1971. +NameTitleAppointedPresented credentialsTerminated missionNotesCharles J. Nelson – Political appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryJune 9, 1971November 3, 1971March 2, 1974One ambassador, resident at Gaborone, was accredited to Botswana, Swaziland, and Lesotho.David B. Bolen – Career FSOFebruary 28, 1974April 22, 1974August 11, 1976Donald R. Norland – Career FSONorland was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on June 24, 1977.November 17, 1976February 23, 1978September 8, 1979 In 1979 the first ambassador was appointed solely for Swaziland.Richard Cavins Matheron – Career FSONovember 27, 1979March 11, 1980May 26, 1982Robert H. Phinny – Political appointeeAugust 17, 1982January 12, 1983September 5, 1984Harvey Frans Nelson, Jr. – Career FSOAugust 1, 1985October 14, 1985July 29, 1988Mary A. Ryan – Career FSOJuly 11, 1988August 25, 1988January 24, 1990Stephen H. Rogers – Career FSOOctober 22, 1990November 15, 1990November 19, 1993John T. Sprott – Career FSOAugust 9, 1993February 17, 1994August 1, 1996Alan R. McKee – Career FSOJuly 2, 1996October 11, 1996July 12, 1999Gregory Lee Johnson – Career FSONovember 16, 1999February 3, 2000October 18, 2001James D. McGee – Career FSOJanuary 30, 2002February 21, 2002August 10, 2004Lewis W. Lucke – Career FSOJuly 2, 2004August 26, 2004July 22, 2006Maurice S. Parker – Career FSOJuly 20, 2007September 21, 2007June 12, 2009Earl M. Irving – Career FSOJuly 31, 2009August 27, 2009August 27, 2012Makila James - Career FSOAugust 27, 2012September 20, 2012February 5, 2016Lisa J. Peterson - Career FSONovember 19, 2015February 5, 2016December 1, 2020Jeanne Maloney - Career FSODecember 9, 2020March 4, 2021December 20, 2022Caitlin Piper - Career FSOChargé d'Affairs ad interimDecember 20, 2022January 26, 2023Earl R. Miller – Career FSOJanuary 27, 2023October 27, 2023Caitlin Piper - Career FSOOctober 27, 2023August 12, 2025Marc Weinstock - Career FSOAugust 13, 2025Incumbent
Notes
See also Eswatini–United States relations Foreign relations of Eswatini Ambassadors of the United States
References United States Department of State: Background notes on Eswatini
External links United States Department of State: Chiefs of Mission for Swaziland United States Department of State: Eswatini United States Embassy in The Gables