Luncheon: Ambassador Johnnie Carson

Amb Johnnie Carson

Ambassador Carson, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, U.S. Department of State, was sworn into office on May 7, 2009. Prior to this he was the National Intelligence Officer for Africa at the NIC, after serviing as the Senior Vice President of the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. (2003-2006).

Carson's 37-year Foreign Service career includes ambassadorships to Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Uganda, and service as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of African Affairs (1997-1999).

Before joining the Foreign Service, Ambassador Carson was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Tanzania from 1965-1968. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Drake University and a Master of Arts from the School of Oriental and Africa Studies at the University of London.