Richard M. Mills Jr.

Richard Merrill Mills Jr. (born 1959)[2] is an American diplomat who currently serves as U.S. Chargé d'Affaires for Canada.[3] He previously served as United States Ambassador to Armenia from February 2015 until October 2018.[4][5][6]

The Honorable Richard Mills
United States Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations
Nominee
Assuming office TBD*
President	Donald Trump
Succeeding	Jonathan Cohen
U.S. Chargé d'Affaires for Canada
Incumbent
Assumed office August 23, 2019
President	Donald Trump
Preceded by	Kelly Craft (as Ambassador)
Succeeded by	Aldona Wos (nominee)
United States Ambassador to Armenia
In office February 13, 2015 – October 17, 2018
President	Barack Obama Donald Trump
Preceded by	John A. Heffern
Succeeded by	Lynne M. Tracy
Personal details
Born	Richard Merrill Mills Jr.[1] 1959 (age 60–61) Louisiana, U.S.
Alma mater	Georgetown University (B.A.) University of Texas School of Law (JD) National Defense University (M.S.)
*Pending Senate Confirmation

In November 2018, Mills assumed the position of Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of the United States in Ottawa. Following the resignation of Ambassador Kelly Craft in August 2019, he became the acting Ambassador to Canada, with the title of Chargé d'affaires. In January 2020, Mills was nominated to be the next United States Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations, again serving under Kelly Craft.[7]

Early life and education

Mills was born in Louisiana and grew up in Michigan. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Georgetown University, Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law, and an Master of Science in National Security Strategy from the National Defense University.

Career

Prior to his Foreign Service career, Mills was an Associate Attorney in the Washington, D.C. office of Duncan, Allen and Mitchell, as well at the Washington, D.C. office of Wickwire, Gavin and Gibbs.

Mills' first tour as a Foreign Service Officer was at the U.S. embassy in Paris in 1988, where he served as a consular officer and staff assistant to Ambassador Walter Curley.[8] He has had assignments in the Executive Secretariat at the Department of State (1996–1998), Dublin (1999–2001), the United States Mission to the United Nations in New York City (2001–2003), Islamabad (2003–2004), Riyadh (2005–2006), London (2006–2009), Baghdad (2009–2010), and Valletta (2010–2012).[5][8] He then served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. embassy in Beirut, from 2012 to 2014.[5][8]

During his career, Mills has also served in the Office of Legislative Affairs, at the U.S. Consulate in Saint Petersburg, and in the now-defunct Bureau of Soviet Union Affairs.[5][8]

Mills was a Nominee for the Deputy Chief of Mission of the Year Award in 2012 and has received nine Superior Honor Awards from the Department of State. He speaks fluent French and conversational Russian.[5]

In July 2014, Mills was nominated by President Barack Obama to be the U.S. ambassador to Armenia, a position in which he served until October 2018.[9][10]

Mills holds the personal rank of Minister-Counselor in the United States Senior Foreign Service.

Previous roles in the Foreign Service

• Consular Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Paris, France (1988–1990)
• Desk Officer in the Bureau of Soviet Union Affairs (1990–1993)
• Political Officer at the U.S. Consulate in St. Petersburg, Russia (1993–1995)
• Legislative Affairs Officer at the Office of Legislative Affairs (1995–1996)
• Line Director in the Executive Secretariat at the Department of State (1996–1998)
• Economic Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Dublin, Ireland (1999–2001)
• Political Officer at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in New York (2001–2003)
• Deputy Political Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan (2003–2004)
• Energy Attaché and Acting Economic Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (2005–2006)
• Political Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in London, England (2006–2009)
• Senior Democracy Advisor at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq (2009–2010)
• Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé d'Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Valletta, Malta (2010–2012)
• Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon (2012–2014)
• Ambassador to the Republic of Armenia (2015–2018)

Personal life

Mills is married to Leigh Carter, a retired U.S. Foreign Service Officer.[5]

See also

• Ambassadors of the United States

References

1. "PN962 — Foreign Service". U.S. Congress. April 27, 1988. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
2. Richard M. Mills Jr. (1959–)
3. "Chargé d'Affaires Richard Mills Jr". U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Canada. Retrieved 2019-09-20.
4. "Richard M. Mills, Jr". U.S. Department of State. February 23, 2015. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
5. "U.S. Ambassador to Armenia". Embassy of the United States, Yerevan. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
6. "Embassy: Ambassador Mills remains the U.S. ambassador to Armenia". news.am. Retrieved 2017-01-24.
7. "PN1340 — Richard M. Mills Jr. — Department of State". U.S. Congress. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
8. "U.S. Ambassador to Armenia: Who Is Richard Mills?". AllGov. October 12, 2014. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
9. Mills, Richard M. (October 9, 2018). "Farewell Speech As Prepared Ambassador Richard M. Mills". am.usembassy.gov. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
10. "President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts". The White House. July 10, 2014. Retrieved November 22, 2015.

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by John Heffern	United States Ambassador to Armenia 2015–2018	Succeeded by Lynne M. Tracy