Linda Thomas-Greenfield

Linda Thomas-Greenfield
Official portrait, 2021
Linda Thomas-Greenfield
Born	22 11, 1952
Birthplace	Baker, Louisiana, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Diplomat
Known for	31st United States Ambassador to the United Nations; Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs
Education	University of Wisconsin–Madison (MPA)
Spouse(s)	Lafayette Greenfield
Children	2
Awards	AFSA Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy Award (2025)

Linda Thomas-Greenfield (born November 22, 1952) is an American career diplomat who served as the 31st United States Ambassador to the United Nations from February 2021 to January 2025 under President Joe Biden. Over a career spanning more than three decades in the United States Foreign Service, she held numerous senior positions, including Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs from 2013 to 2017, Director General of the Foreign Service and Director of Human Resources from 2012 to 2013, and United States Ambassador to Liberia from 2008 to 2012. Born and raised in Baker, Louisiana, Thomas-Greenfield rose from modest beginnings in the segregated American South to become one of the highest-ranking African American diplomats in U.S. history. After her departure from the State Department in 2017, she entered the private sector as a senior vice president at the Albright Stonebridge Group, a Washington, D.C.-based business strategy firm. President Biden nominated her for the United Nations post in November 2020, and the United States Senate confirmed her on February 23, 2021. Since leaving office in January 2025, Thomas-Greenfield has continued to engage in public discourse on diplomacy and international affairs.

Early Life

Linda Thomas-Greenfield was born on November 22, 1952, in Baker, Louisiana, a small city located northeast of Baton Rouge. She grew up in the segregated South during a period of significant social upheaval surrounding the Civil Rights Movement. Thomas-Greenfield was raised in a large family; her upbringing in a close-knit community in Baker shaped her interpersonal skills and what would later become a hallmark of her diplomatic style — an emphasis on personal connection and what she has described as "gumbo diplomacy," a reference to the Louisiana tradition of welcoming people through food and hospitality.

Growing up in Baker during the era of racial segregation, Thomas-Greenfield attended segregated schools. The experience of living under Jim Crow laws and witnessing the civil rights struggles of the 1950s and 1960s left a lasting impression on her worldview and later informed her approach to issues of equity and human rights in her diplomatic career.

Education

Thomas-Greenfield attended Louisiana State University (LSU) in Baton Rouge, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. She subsequently pursued graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she earned a Master of Public Affairs (MPA) degree. In 2025, the University of Wisconsin–Madison recognized her distinguished career in international diplomacy with an honorary doctorate. Her academic training in public affairs provided the foundation for her entry into the Foreign Service, where she would go on to serve for more than 35 years.

Career

Early Foreign Service Career

Thomas-Greenfield joined the United States Foreign Service after completing her graduate studies and built a career that spanned more than three decades across multiple continents. Her early assignments included postings in a number of countries in Africa, Asia, and Europe. According to the U.S. Department of State, her overseas assignments included service in Jamaica, Nigeria, The Gambia, Kenya, and Pakistan, among other countries. She served in a variety of roles, progressing through the ranks of the Foreign Service from junior officer to increasingly senior diplomatic positions.

Throughout her early career, Thomas-Greenfield developed a specialization in African affairs that would define much of her professional trajectory. She served at U.S. embassies across the African continent and gained expertise in issues ranging from conflict resolution and peacekeeping to economic development and democratic governance.

United States Ambassador to Liberia (2008–2012)

On August 27, 2008, Thomas-Greenfield assumed the post of United States Ambassador to Liberia, serving under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Her tenure in Monrovia coincided with a critical period in Liberian history, as the country continued its recovery from decades of civil war under the leadership of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa's first elected female head of state. Thomas-Greenfield served in this role until February 29, 2012, succeeding Donald E. Booth and being succeeded by Deborah R. Malac.

During her time as ambassador, Thomas-Greenfield oversaw U.S. diplomatic engagement with Liberia on a range of issues, including post-conflict reconstruction, security sector reform, and economic development. Her service in Liberia further deepened her expertise in African affairs and her reputation as an effective diplomatic leader.

Director General of the Foreign Service (2012–2013)

Following her return from Liberia, Thomas-Greenfield was appointed as the Director General of the Foreign Service and Director of Human Resources on April 2, 2012, serving under President Obama. In this role, she was responsible for the recruitment, assignment, and professional development of the approximately 70,000 employees of the U.S. Department of State. She succeeded Nancy Jo Powell in the position and served until August 2, 2013, when she was succeeded by Arnold A. Chacón.

The Director General position is one of the most senior administrative roles within the State Department, and Thomas-Greenfield's appointment reflected her standing as one of the most accomplished career diplomats in the Foreign Service.

Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs (2013–2017)

On August 6, 2013, Thomas-Greenfield became the 18th Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, the highest-ranking position focused on Africa within the U.S. Department of State. She succeeded Johnnie Carson and served under Presidents Obama and Donald Trump.

As Assistant Secretary, Thomas-Greenfield was responsible for overseeing U.S. diplomatic relations with 49 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Her tenure encompassed a period of significant challenges on the continent, including the West African Ebola epidemic of 2014–2016, ongoing conflicts in South Sudan, the Central African Republic, and Nigeria (with the Boko Haram insurgency), and a range of governance and human rights issues across the region.

Thomas-Greenfield's departure from the State Department came in March 2017, shortly after the inauguration of President Trump. She was among several senior career diplomats who left the department during the early months of the Trump administration. The Washington Post reported on the departures of senior diplomats from the State Department during this period, characterizing it as part of a broader exodus of experienced foreign policy professionals. She was succeeded as Assistant Secretary by Tibor P. Nagy.

Private Sector: Albright Stonebridge Group (2017–2021)

After leaving government service in 2017, Thomas-Greenfield joined the Albright Stonebridge Group (ASG), a Washington, D.C.-based global business strategy firm founded by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. She served as a senior vice president at the firm, where she advised clients on issues related to Africa and international affairs.

During the 2020 presidential transition, Thomas-Greenfield was named to the Biden-Harris transition team's agency review teams, contributing her expertise to the planning process for the incoming administration. The Los Angeles Times reported in November 2020 that the incoming Biden administration was looking to rehire experienced diplomats who had left government during the Trump years, with Thomas-Greenfield among those who were prominently mentioned as potential candidates for senior positions.

Thomas-Greenfield was also associated with Foreign Policy for America, a nonprofit organization focused on American engagement in the world.

United States Ambassador to the United Nations (2021–2025)

In November 2020, President-elect Biden announced his intention to nominate Thomas-Greenfield as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, with the position elevated to cabinet-level rank. The U.S. Senate confirmed her nomination on February 23, 2021, and she presented her credentials on February 25, 2021, officially assuming the role as the 31st U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. She succeeded Kelly Craft, who had served under President Trump.

As Ambassador to the United Nations, Thomas-Greenfield represented the United States in the United Nations Security Council and the broader UN system during a period marked by significant international crises. Her deputies included Richard M. Mills Jr. and Dorothy Shea.

One of the defining events of her tenure was the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Thomas-Greenfield played a prominent role in rallying international support for Ukraine at the United Nations, delivering statements at emergency Security Council sessions and helping to coordinate multilateral responses to the conflict. On February 23, 2022, she addressed the UN Security Council at an emergency meeting on the Ukraine crisis.

Thomas-Greenfield's time at the United Nations also encompassed other major international issues, including the ongoing Israeli–Palestinian conflict, global food security concerns exacerbated by the Ukraine conflict, climate change negotiations, and efforts to address humanitarian crises across multiple regions. She sought to reestablish U.S. multilateral engagement after a period during the Trump administration in which the United States had withdrawn from several international bodies and agreements.

Her approach to diplomacy was frequently characterized by an emphasis on personal relationships and what she termed "gumbo diplomacy" — a style rooted in her Louisiana upbringing that prioritized personal connection and hospitality as tools of diplomatic engagement. The American Foreign Service Association later described her as "The People's Ambassador" in recognition of this approach.

Thomas-Greenfield served as Ambassador to the United Nations until January 20, 2025, the end of the Biden administration. She was succeeded by Mike Waltz, who was nominated by President Trump.

Post-Government Activities (2025–Present)

Following her departure from the United Nations, Thomas-Greenfield has remained active in public discourse on foreign policy and international affairs. In April 2025, she visited the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she discussed diplomacy and foreign policy, though the event was marked by protest interruptions. During the visit, she also spoke with Wisconsin Public Radio, discussing the domestic connections to international conflicts and humanitarian crises abroad.

In April 2025, Thomas-Greenfield also appeared on PBS Wisconsin to discuss the challenges and rewards of conducting international diplomacy. She publicly cautioned that the absence of a confirmed U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under the new Trump administration was handing influence to China at the international body.

Thomas-Greenfield was announced as the keynote speaker for the 2026 America's Role in the World conference at the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies at Indiana University.

Personal Life

Linda Thomas-Greenfield is married to Lafayette Greenfield. The couple has two children. She has spoken publicly about the influence of her upbringing in Baker, Louisiana, on her diplomatic career, frequently referencing the values of community and hospitality that she learned growing up in the American South. Her concept of "gumbo diplomacy" — using the act of sharing food as a means of building relationships — has become a well-known element of her public persona and diplomatic philosophy.

Recognition

Thomas-Greenfield has received several awards and honors throughout her career in recognition of her contributions to American diplomacy and international affairs.

In October 2025, the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) named Thomas-Greenfield the 31st recipient of its Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy Award, one of the most significant honors in the field of American diplomacy. The award was presented at a ceremony on October 1, 2025, and AFSA referred to her as "The People's Ambassador" in its recognition.

Also in October 2025, Thomas-Greenfield was named the 2025 recipient of the Trailblazer for Africa Award, which was presented on October 14, 2025, at the Africa @ World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings in Washington, D.C.

The University of Wisconsin–Madison conferred an honorary doctorate upon Thomas-Greenfield in recognition of her career in international diplomacy.

Legacy

Linda Thomas-Greenfield's career in the United States Foreign Service spanned more than 35 years and encompassed some of the most senior positions available to career diplomats. As one of the highest-ranking African American women in the history of the State Department, her career trajectory — from the segregated schools of Baker, Louisiana, to the United Nations Security Council — represented a significant milestone in American diplomatic history.

Her tenure as Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs from 2013 to 2017 made her the principal U.S. government official responsible for diplomatic relations with Sub-Saharan Africa during a period of substantial challenges, including the West African Ebola crisis and multiple conflicts across the continent.

As Ambassador to the United Nations from 2021 to 2025, Thomas-Greenfield led U.S. diplomatic efforts at the multilateral body during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, one of the most significant international security crises since the end of the Cold War. Her appointment with cabinet-level rank reflected the Biden administration's emphasis on restoring American multilateral engagement.

The AFSA Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy Award, presented in 2025, placed Thomas-Greenfield among a select group of diplomats recognized for their sustained service to American foreign policy. Her emphasis on personal connection and cultural exchange as diplomatic tools — encapsulated in her "gumbo diplomacy" approach — offered a distinctive model of diplomatic engagement that drew on her personal background and Louisiana heritage.