Joan Plaisted Explained

Joan M. Plaisted
Order:4th
Ambassador From:United States
Country:the Marshall Islands
Term Start:December 19, 1995
Term End:July 28, 2000
President:Bill Clinton
Predecessor:David C. Fields
Successor:Michael J. Senko
Order2:6th
Ambassador From2:United States
Country2:Kiribati
Term Start2:December 19, 1995
Term End2:July 28, 2000
President2:Bill Clinton
Predecessor2:Evelyn I. H. Teegan
Successor2:Michael J. Senko
Birth Date:August 29, 1945
Birth Place:St. Peter, Minnesota
Nationality: United States
Alma Mater:American University
University of Grenoble
Profession:Diplomat

Joan M. Plaisted (born August 29, 1945) is an American diplomat. She is a career diplomat of the United States Foreign Service, and was the United States Ambassador to the Marshall Islands and Kiribati from 1995 to 2000 concurrently, while resident at Majuro.[1]

Biography

Plaisted was born on August 29, 1945, in St. Peter, Minnesota. She received her early education in Willmar, Minnesota, and earned her B.A in International Relations and M.A. in Asian Studies from the School of International Service at American University in Washington, D.C., in 1967, as well as graduating from the University of Grenoble in 1967. Prior to joining the U.S. Foreign Service, she started her career with the Department of Commerce working on Japan, Korea and the Pacific Islands.

She joined the U.S. Foreign Service in 1973 and served as Office Director for Thailand and Burmese Affairs in the Department of State. From 1991 to 1994, she was Chargé d'affaires ad interim and Deputy Chief of Mission of the American Embassy in Rabat, Morocco. She also worked in Hong Kong and Paris. In Washington, Plaisted served in the Office of Chinese Affairs. She also served with the Executive Office of the President Office of the U.S. Trade Representative in Geneva, Switzerland.[2] [3]

On July 26, 1995, President Bill Clinton announced his intention to nominate Joan Plaisted as Ambassador the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Kiribati. She was appointed on December 19, 1995, and served until her retirement on July 28, 2000. She became a United States Senior Advisor to the United Nations some time later, and remains politically active.

In May 1993, she was awarded the American University's Lodestar Award as the school's most outstanding alumnus who best exemplifies the University's values. She is a graduate of the National War College Class of 1988 and is a recipient of the Department of State's Superior and Meritorious Honor Awards. She can speak French, as well as English.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 30 July 2001 . The Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training Foreign Affairs Oral History Project AMBASSADOR JOAN M. PLAISTED . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240703173637/https://adst.org/OH%20TOCs/Plaisted,%20Joan%20M.toc.pdf . 3 July 2024 . 31 July 2024 . Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training.
  2. Web site: Department History - People - Joan M. Plaisted . History.state.gov . 14 June 2012.
  3. Web site: Ambassador Joan M. Plaisted . Charles Stuart Kennedy . July 30, 2001 . loc.gov . 14 June 2012.
  4. Web site: President names Joan M. Plaisted as Ambassador to the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Kiribati . July 26, 1995 . ibiblio.org . 14 June 2012.