The Ambassador
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Ambassador William D. Montgomery
Former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Croatia
Ambassador William D. Montgomery
Former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Croatia
Ambassador William D. Montgomery was nominated by President Clinton in October 1997 to be the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Croatia. He assumed this post in January 1998. His previous assignment was Special Advisor to the President and Secretary of State for Bosnian Peace Implementation. He has been a career Foreign Service Officer since 1974. He served as Ambassador to Bulgaria from October 1993 to January 1996. He was Deputy Chief of Mission in Sofia from June 1988 to May 1991. His other assignments have included Economic-Commercial Officer in Belgrade, Commercial Officer in Moscow, Political Officer in Moscow, and Deputy Chief of Mission in Dar Es Salaam, as well as assignments in Washington. He was Executive Assistant to Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger and then Deputy Secretary of State Clifton Wharton. He speaks Russian, Bulgarian, Serbian, and Croatian. At the end of his tour as Ambassador to Bulgaria, Mr. Montgomery was awarded the Order of the Stara Planina, First Class, by the Government of Bulgaria. At the end of his tour as Deputy Chief of Mission, the Bulgarian Government awarded him the Order of the Madara Horseman, First Class. He has one Distinguished Honor Award, two individual and two group Senior Honor Awards, and one Meritorious Honor Award from the Department of State. He is also a recipient of an ABA-CEELI award for his efforts to promote the rule of law in Central and Eastern Europe. Ambassador Montgomery has a BA in Psychology from Bucknell University and a Masters of Business Administration in International Business from George Washington University. While working for the Department of State, he attended the National War College for its one-year program in 1986-87. He served in the U.S. Army from 1967 to 1970, including one year of service in Vietnam. His army decorations include the Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal with "V" (for valor), Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachute Badge, and Vietnam Service Medal. He is married to the former Lynne Germain, and they have three children.
