Ambassador William M. Bellamy
Ambassador Bellamy is a senior resident fellow in the Africa and International Security Programs, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
Prior to his appointment at CSIS, Ambassador Bellamy was senior vice president of the National Defense University (NDU). A career diplomat, Ambassador Bellamy is the recipient of a Presidential Meritorious Service Award, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joint Distinguished Civilian Service Award, as well as a Distinguished Honor Award and two Superior Honor Awards conferred by the Secretary of State.
As ambassador to Kenya from 2003 to 2006, he directed U.S. counterterrorism programs in the Horn of Africa. He also supervised the U.S. government’s largest foreign HIV/AIDS program and led multinational efforts to combat corruption and promote good governance in Kenya. Ambassador Bellamy served as principal deputy assistant secretary of state for African affairs (2001–2003) and as deputy assistant secretary for African affairs (2000–2001). His earlier diplomatic postings include deputy chief of mission in Canberra, Australia, from 1997 to 2000, and minister-counselor for political affairs in Paris, France, from 1993 to 1997. As political counselor in Pretoria, South Africa, from 1991 to 1993, he was closely engaged in U.S. diplomatic efforts to promote a peaceful transition from apartheid to democratic government. He served as officer-in-charge for South Africa in the State Department from 1987 to 1989 and as a political officer in the U.S. embassy in Harare, Zimbabwe, from 1985 to 1987.
Ambassador Bellamy holds a B.A. in history from Occidental College in Los Angeles and a M.A. in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He has certificates from the Institut Universitaire des Hautes Etudes Internationales in Geneva and the Ecole Nationale d’Administration in Paris. Prior to joining the Foreign Service, Ambassador Bellamy worked as a journalist in San Francisco and public relations officer for a major bank in Los Angeles.
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