David M. Satterfield

Ambassador Satterfield entered the Foreign Service in 1980 and holds the rank of Career Minister. He most recently served from July 2009 until August 2017 as the Director General of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in the Sinai Peninsula. At the Department of State, Satterfield served as Coordinator for Iraq and Senior Advisor to the Secretary of State, U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission in Iraq, Assistant Secretary of State (Acting) for Near Eastern Affairs, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, Chief of Mission in Cairo, and U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon. His Middle East experience spans almost forty years and also includes assignments in Syria, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia and two tours in Lebanon. Ambassador Satterfield served as Director of Arab and Arab-Israeli Affairs in the Department of State and as Director for Near Eastern Affairs on the National Security Council Staff from 1993 to 1998, where he worked primarily on the Arab-Israeli peace process. He is the recipient of the Secretary of State’s Distinguished Service Award, the Department of State Distinguished Honor Award, the Presidential Distinguished Executive Award and the Department of the Army Outstanding Civilian Service Award. His languages include Arabic and French. Ambassador Satterfield attended the University of Maryland and Georgetown University.