Political appointee A person who is not a career foreign service officer, but is appointed by the president (often as a reward to political friends).
Appointed The date that the ambassador took the oath of office; also known as "commissioning". It follows confirmation of a presidential appointment by the Senate, or a Congressional recess appointment by the president. In the case of a recess appointment, the ambassador requires subsequent confirmation by the Senate to remain in office.
Presented credentials The date that the ambassador presented his letter of credence to the head of state or appropriate authority of the receiving nation. At this time the ambassador officially becomes the representative of his country. This would normally occur a short time after the ambassador's arrival on station. The host nation may reject the ambassador by not receiving the ambassador's letter, but this occurs only rarely.
Terminated mission Usually the date that the ambassador left the country. In some cases a letter of recall is presented, ending the ambassador's commission, either as a means of diplomatic protest or because the diplomat is being reassigned elsewhere and replaced by another envoy.
Chargé d'affaires The person in charge of the business of the embassy when there is no ambassador commissioned to the host country.
Ad interim Latin phrase meaning "for the time being", "in the meantime".
Diplomatic presence of the United States of AmericainOman started in 1880 when the U.S. set up its consulate in Muscat. The consulate operated in Oman through 1915. U.S. interests in Oman, thereafter, were handled by U.S. diplomats resident in neighboring countries. In 1972, the U.S. ambassador to Kuwait, William Stoltzfus was accredited as the first U.S. ambassador to Oman, and the U.S. embassy, headed by a resident chargé d'affaires, was opened on July 4, 1972.[1]
The first resident U.S. ambassador, William D. Wolle, took up his post in July 1974.[2] U.S. Ambassador Wiley has played important roles in the development of Oman – United States relations, the staging of the Iran Hostage Rescue Attempt from Oman, and making it one of the most reliable Middle Eastern allies of the United States.[3]
The United States Embassy in the Sultanate of Oman is located in Muscat.[4]
This article incorporates public domain material from U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets. United States Department of State.
