key officers

David Ballard

David Ballard: Chargé d’Affaires a.i., U.S. Embassy Lisbon, Portugal

David Ballard is the Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Lisbon, Portugal. He arrived in Lisbon in August 2007, and served as Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) for Ambassadors Hoffman and Stephenson until June, 2009. As Deputy Chief of Mission, Mr. Ballard is the chief advisor to the U.S. Ambassador in managing the Embassy’s bilateral relationship with Portugal. He also has responsibility for day-to-day direction of the Embassy. In the period of time between Ambassadors, the DCM also serves as Chargé d’Affaires, or temporary “acting” Ambassador.

Prior to taking up his duties in Lisbon, Mr. Ballard was the DCM in Tunis, Tunisia for three years, beginning in 2004. His most recent Washington assignment was as the Director of the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Foreign Press from 2002 to 2004.

A career member of the Foreign Service since 1985, Mr. Ballard’s other assignments include: Morocco, Rwanda, Angola, Mozambique, Washington, and Egypt. In all his overseas positions, he was part of the U.S. diplomatic mission. In Washington, he served at the former U.S. Information Agency as country affairs officer for Francophone West Africa, and as a member of the Department of State’s Senior Seminar at the National Foreign Affairs Training Center.

Mr. Ballard has a bachelor of science in Foreign Service (African Studies Certificate) from Georgetown University and a Certificat d’études africaines (niveau license) from the National University of Ivory Coast.

David Ballard is married to Tamsin Cooke Ballard. They are the parents of Sawyer (14), Skander (10), and Chiara (6).