April 21, 1988
The President today announced his intention to nominate Mary A. Ryan, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, as Ambassador to the Kingdom of Swaziland. She would succeed Harvey F. Nelson, Jr.
Ms. Ryan entered the Foreign Service of the United States in 1966 and was first assigned as a consular and administrative officer in Naples, Italy, 1966 - 1969. She was assigned as personnel officer at the American Embassy in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, 1970 - 1971, and subsequently served as a consular officer at the American consulate general in Monterrey, Mexico. In 1973 she returned to Washington and was assigned as administrative officer in the Bureau of African Affairs from 1973 to 1975, and as a post management officer in the Bureau of African Affairs, 1975 - 1977. From 1977 to 1980, she was a career development officer in the Bureau of Personnel. In 1980 Ms. Ryan received French language training, followed by assignments as administrative counselor in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, 1980 - 1981, and Khartoum, Sudan, 1981 - 1982. From 1982 to 1983, she served as an inspector in the Office of the Inspector General in the Department of State, and Executive Director of the Bureau of European and Canadian Affairs, 1983 - 1985. Since 1985 Ms. Ryan has been the Executive Assistant to the Under Secretary of State for Management.
Ms. Ryan graduated from St. John's University (B.A., 1963; M.A., 1965). She was born October 1, 1940, in New York, NY, and currently resides in Washington, DC.