View source for Pamela J. H. Slutz

{{Short description|American diplomat (born 1949)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2022}}{{Infobox officeholder
| name=  Pamela J. H. Slutz
| image= Slutz pamela mongolia.jpg
| imagesize =
| order=
| ambassador_from =United States
| country = Burundi
| term_start = 2009
| term_end = 2012
| president = [[Barack Obama]]
| predecessor  = [[Patricia Moller]]
| successor  = [[Dawn M. Liberi]]
| ambassador_from2=United States
| country2= Mongolia
| term_start2= 2003
| term_end2= 2006
| president2= [[George W. Bush]]
| predecessor2 = [[John R. Dinger]]
| successor2 = [[Mark C. Minton]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1949|1|13}}
| birth_place =
| home_town=[[Texas]]<ref name="Congressional Record"/>
| spouse=Ronald J. Deutch<ref name="Congressional Record">{{Cite journal |title=Executive Reports of Committees |journal=Congressional Record, 111th Congress, 1st Session |volume= 155 |number= 115 |url=https://www.congress.gov/111/crec/2009/07/28/CREC-2009-07-28.pdf |publisher=[[United States Congress]] |date=2009-07-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207061949/https://www.congress.gov/111/crec/2009/07/28/CREC-2009-07-28.pdf |archive-date=2020-02-07}}</ref>
| party=
| profession=[[diplomacy|Diplomat]], [[Diplomatic rank#United States|Ambassador]]
| religion=
}}
'''Pamela Jo Howell Slutz''' (born January 13, 1949)<ref>[https://books.google.com/books/about/Ancestor_Book_I_for_Pamela_Jo_Howell_Slu.html?id=h4udngEACAAJ Ancestor Book I for Pamela Jo Howell Slutz]</ref> was a career member of the [[United States Foreign Service]] who served as [[U.S. Ambassador to Burundi]], and as [[U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia]].<ref> {{cite web |title=Personnel Announcement |url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030314-25.html |publication-date=14 March 2003 |accessdate=26 October 2023}} </ref> Over the course of her career, she has also served in various diplomatic posts in Kenya, Taiwan, Indonesia, and China. She was the recipient of two U.S. Department of State Superior Honor Awards and the Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Executive. After retiring in 2012, Slutz continued to work part-time for the Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of State. From 2019 to 2024 she served as president of The Mongolia Society.
== Early life and education ==
Born in Chicago, Illinois, Pamela Slutz moved to Washington when her father joined the [[United States Department of State]] Bureau of Intelligence and Research in 1952. Her father, Robert Fleming Slutz Jr., joined the Foreign Service and was posted overseas.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=June 2010 |title=Robert Fleming Slutz Jr. |url=https://archive.org/details/nsia-by52p1.3vQGg/page/n1/mode/2up |journal=[[State Magazine]] |issue=546 |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> From the ages of 7 to 15, Pamela attended the [[International School Bangkok]] in [[Thailand]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=October 28, 2011 |title=Pamela J. Slutz: Ambassador to Burundi |url=http://www.hawaii.edu/malamalama/2011/10/pamela-slutz/ |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=Mālamalama |via=[[University of Hawaii]]}}</ref> During her college years, she visited her parents in [[Indonesia]].<ref name=":2" /> A native English speaker, her second languages include French, Indonesian, and Mandarin.<ref name=":1" />
Pamela Slutz is an alumna of [[Hollins University]] (BA, Politics 1970) where she participated in the Hollins Abroad Program in Paris in 1968–69. She also holds an MA in [[Asian Studies]] with specialization in Indonesian studies (1972) from the [[University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa|University of Hawai'i]], where she was an [[East–West Center]] Fellow.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hawaii.edu/shaps/asia/1970s.html |title=University of Hawaii at Manoa Asian Studies Asian Studies Graduates MA 1971--1979 |access-date=2008-11-24 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725101133/http://www.hawaii.edu/shaps/asia/1970s.html |archive-date=2008-07-25 }}</ref>  She is the recipient of the Hollins University Distinguished Alumnae Award (2010).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollins.edu/alumnae/accomplishments/|work=Hollins Alumnae|access-date=21 November 2013|title=Alumnae Accomplishments}}</ref> As one of fifty East-West Center alumni featured in the Center's Fiftieth Anniversary publication, "50 Years, 50 Stories", Slutz was quoted as saying, "My heart has always been in Asia."<ref name=":2">{{cite web |date=2010 |title=East-West Center: 50 Years 50 Stories |url=http://www.eastwestcenter.org/fileadmin/resources/alumni/Conferences/2010_Hawaii/ewc50yrs50stories.pdf |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=East–West Center |publisher= |location=Honolulu}}</ref>
== Career ==
After joining the U.S. Department of State in 1981, she served overseas at U.S. embassies in [[Kinshasa]], [[Zaire]] (now the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]]) (1982–84) and [[Embassy of the United States, Jakarta|Jakarta, Indonesia]] (1984–87).<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Name: Slutz, Pamela |url=http://www.allgov.com/officials/slutz-pamela?officialid=29342 |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=AllGov}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> She worked in the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Political Military Affairs from 1987 to 1989, where she served as a member of the U.S. Delegation to the Nuclear and Space Talks with the [[USSR]] in Geneva.<ref name=":1" /> In 1988–1989, Slutz was nominated by the State Department to be an MIT Seminar XXI Fellow.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pamela Slutz |url=https://semxxi.mit.edu/pamela-slutz |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=MIT Seminar XXII: Educating U.S. National Security Leaders}}</ref>
[[File:Stamp, U.S. Embassy Taipei (pre-1979).jpg|thumb|The stamp from the former U.S. Embassy in Taipei was donated by Slutz to the [[National Museum of American Diplomacy]]]]
From 1991 to 1994 she was assigned to the [[Consulate General of the United States, Shanghai|U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai]], where she was Acting Consul General from May to October 1994. From 1995 to 1997 she was deputy director of the U.S. Department of State Office of Chinese and Mongolian Affairs, the first woman to hold that position.  Between 1997 and 1999 she was director of the Office of Regional and Security Policy in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. She returned to Jakarta, Indonesia for a second tour as the Chief of the Political Section (1999–2001).<ref name=":3" /> She was Acting Director of the [[American Institute in Taiwan]], [[Taipei]] from 2001 to 2002, and Deputy Director until 2003, the first woman to hold those positions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Alumnae Firsts |url=https://www.hollins.edu/alumnae/alumnae-news/alumnae-accomplishments/alumnae-firsts/ |publisher=[[Hollins University]] |access-date=2020-02-11 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200211060445/https://www.hollins.edu/alumnae/alumnae-news/alumnae-accomplishments/alumnae-firsts/ |archive-date=2020-02-11 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Speckart |first=Kathryn |date=September 2016 |title=Keys to the past: artifacts open memories' doors |url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A468772149/AONE |journal=[[State Magazine]] |issue=615 |via=[[Gale Academic OneFile]]}}</ref>
[[File:Pamela J. H. Slutz 2.jpg|thumb|Slutz with former President [[Punsalmaagiin Ochirbat]] in 2018]]
President George W. Bush nominated her to be [[U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia]] (2003–2006),<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 March 2003 |title=President picks Slutz from Taiwan institute as Mongolia liaison |pages=7C |work=The Charleston Gazette; Charleston, W.V. [Charleston, W.V] |via=[[ProQuest]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=19 May 2003 |title=PRESIDENT BUSH SELECTS AMBASSADOR |pages=C1 |work=The Stuart News; Stuart, Fla |via=[[ProQuest]]}}</ref> the first woman to hold that position.<ref>[https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/27988.htm US State Department]</ref> As Ambassador to Mongolia, Slutz hosted the first-ever visits to Mongolia by a sitting president and first lady (President and Mrs. George W. Bush).<ref name=":2" />  She also hosted the first-ever visits to Mongolia by a secretary of defense ([[Donald Rumsfeld]]), and a speaker of the House ([[Dennis Hastert]]) — and the second-ever visit by a secretary of state ([[Condoleezza Rice]]). In addition, she was instrumental in channeling assistance to the first-ever shelter for abused women in [[Ulaanbaatar]],<ref>[http://www.hawaii.edu/shaps/asia/1970s.html University of Hawaii] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725101133/http://www.hawaii.edu/shaps/asia/1970s.html |date=2008-07-25 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Sexton |first=Patricia |url=http://archive.org/details/livefrommongolia0000sext |title=Live from Mongolia : from Wall Street banker to Mongolian news anchor |date=2013 |publisher=New York, NY : Beaufort Books |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-0-8253-0657-0 |pages=164–165}}</ref> advocated for Mongolia to reduce its dependence on foreign aid,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Duong |first=Cassie |date=June 13, 2006 |title=Mongolia Must Reduce Dependence on Foreign Aid, U.S. Envoy Says: Pamela Slutz says strengthening rule of law will help attract foreign investment |work=State Department Documents / FIND; Washington |via=[[ProQuest]]}}</ref> and shared the nature of Mongolia and North Korea interactions.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pocha |first=Jehangir S. |date=18 March 2005 |title=A softer approach to North Korea Mongolia offers itself as a model for change |pages=1 |work=International Herald Tribune |via=[[ProQuest]]}}</ref> In April 2015, Slutz was awarded the [[Order of the Polar Star (Mongolia)|Order of the Polar Star]], the highest honor bestowed on non-Mongolian citizens by the President of Mongolia.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=NAMBC Chairman Pamela Slutz is awarded Order of the Polar Star |url=https://www.nambc.org/docs/nambc_chairman_pamela/ |access-date=2022-06-01 |website=www.nambc.org}}</ref>
Slutz then served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the [[Embassy of the United States, Nairobi|U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya]] (2006–2009).<ref name=":2" /> While posted in Nairobi, she climbed to the summit of [[Mount Kenya]].<ref name=":2" /> She was then nominated by President [[Barack Obama]] to be the [[U.S. Ambassador to Burundi]] (2009–2012).<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 11, 2009 |title=President Obama Announces More Ambassadorial Nominations: Presidential nominations sent to Senate for confirmation |work=State Department Documents |via=[[ProQuest]]}}</ref> In mid-2010, Slutz and her embassy staff supported and monitored the first democratic elections in Burundi since 1993.<ref name=":2" />
She was the recipient of the [[Presidential Rank Awards|Presidential Rank Award]] for Meritorious Executive (2011) and two Department of State Superior Honor Awards (1999 and 2009).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pamela Jo Howell Slutz |url=https://www.hollins.edu/175th-anniversary/distinguished-graduates/pamela-jo-howell-slutz/ |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=Hollins |language=en}}</ref> After retiring, Slutz served on the board of directors of the North America-Mongolia Business Council (NAMBC), including as its chairman from 2013–2016;<ref name=":0" /> and, in March 2019, was elected President of The Mongolia Society.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://www.mongoliasociety.org/about |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=The Mongolia Society |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Personal life ==
Slutz is married to Ronald J. Deutch,<ref name="Congressional Record" /> a retired Foreign Service Officer.<ref name=":1" />
== Selected publications ==
*Freeman, Patrick J.; Slutz, Pamela J. H. (October 2006). "[[iarchive:sim_state-magazine_2006-10_505/page/n19/mode/2up|Mongolia at 800: A New Era on the Steppe]]". ''State Magazine''. p. 15. Retrieved 2002-06-06.
*{{Cite journal |last1=Slutz |first1=Pamela J. |last2=Goldbeck |first2=Brian J. |date=August 2020 |title=President Bush's 2005 Mongolia Visit {{!}} American Diplomacy Est 1996 |url=https://americandiplomacy.web.unc.edu/2020/08/president-bushs-2005-mongolia-visit/ |journal=American Diplomacy |access-date=2022-06-01 }}
== References ==
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{{succession box
| title=  [[United States Ambassador to Mongolia|U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia]]
| before= [[John R. Dinger]]
| after=  [[Mark C. Minton]]
| years=  2003–2006
}}
{{succession box
| title=  [[United States Ambassador to Burundi|U.S. Ambassador to Burundi]]
| before= [[Patricia Moller]]
| after=  [[Dawn M. Liberi]]
| years=  2009–2012
}}
{{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Slutz, Pamela}}
[[Category:1949 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Texas]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of the United States to Mongolia]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of the United States to Burundi]]
[[Category:Hollins University alumni]]
[[Category:Deputy directors of the American Institute in Taiwan]]
[[Category:United States Foreign Service personnel]]
[[Category:American women ambassadors]]
[[Category:20th-century American women]]
[[Category:21st-century American women]]
[[Category:21st-century American diplomats]]