Julie Furuta-Toy Explained

Julie Furuta-Toy
Office:United States Ambassador to Equatorial Guinea
President:Barack Obama
Donald Trump
Term Start:January 7, 2016
Term End:February 25, 2019
Predecessor:Mark L. Asquino
Successor:Susan N. Stevenson
Office1:United States Ambassador to Norway
Acting
President1:Barack Obama
Term Start1:September 28, 2013
Term End1:June 2015
Predecessor1:Barry White
Successor1:Robert Bradtke (Acting)
Alma Mater:University of California, Riverside
Indiana University Bloomington
National Defense University

Julie Furuta-Toy (born 1960)[1] is a former U.S. Ambassador to Equatorial Guinea. Following an initial announcement by President Barack Obama on June 18, 2015, Ambassador Furuta-Toy was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 22, 2015, and subsequently sworn in on November 24, 2015. She arrived in Malabo to take up her duties on January 7, 2016. Prior to her arrival in Equatorial Guinea, Ms. Furuta-Toy served as both Deputy Chief of Mission and chargé d'affaires at the Embassy of the United States, Oslo, (2012-2015). Her lengthy tenure as chargé d'affaires stemmed from delays related to the nomination and confirmation of a new ambassador to Norway by the United States Senate.[2]

Early life and education

Ambassador Furuta-Toy was born in Opelika, Alabama, and raised in Riverside, California, and is the daughter of Emi K. Furuta and Tokuji Furuta.[3] She earned a Bachelor's degree from University of California, Riverside in 1981, and credits her liberal arts education and study abroad her final year in the United Kingdom with sparking her interest in a foreign service career.[4] She also earned a Master's degree in comparative literature from Indiana University Bloomington and a Master's degree in security studies from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.[5]

Career

Ambassador Furuta-Toy entered the United States Foreign Service in 1986 and has served overseas assignments in the Philippines, Venezuela, Haiti, India, and Russia. She has served domestic assignments in the Bureau of Consular Affairs, the Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, and the Bureau of Human Resources. Her service as a consular officer includes time as Director of the Office of Children's Issues (2007–2009) and Director of the Office of Public and Diplomatic Liaison of the Visa Office (2004–2007). Prior to her arrival in Norway, she was the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Accra, Ghana (2009–2012).[5]

Personal

Furuta-Toy is married to Steven M. Toy, a fellow Foreign Service Officer, and they are the parents of two adult children. They reside in Wapiti, Wyoming.[6]

Furuta-Toy is of Japanese descent. Both of her parents were sent to Japanese internment camps during World War II.

In addition to English, she speaks Spanish and Russian. Her hobbies include handicrafts, pet care, and listening to the viola.[7]

External links

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Notes and References

  1. https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/furuta-toy-julia-ann Julia Ann Furuta-Toy (1960–)
  2. Web site: Gooding . George K. Norge har aldri gått lenger uten en ambassador fra USA . 2014-10-06 . www.amerikanskpolitikk.no/ . Foreign Policy . 2014-11-01. .
  3. Web site: UC Riverside Alumna is Ambassador in Africa. UCR Today. January 15, 2016.
  4. U.C.R. The Magazine of U.S. Riverside, Spring 2016, page 4
  5. Web site: About us: Ambassador . 2013-03-18 . www.norway.usembassy.gov/ . Embassy of the United States Oslo, Norway . 2015-01-08 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20141229183502/http://norway.usembassy.gov/ambassador2.html . 2014-12-29 .
  6. Web site: New U.S. diplomat to African nation calls Wyoming home . Billings Gazette. December 20, 2015.
  7. http://malabo.usembassy.gov/ambassador.html Ambassador Julie Furuta-Toy