Deborah R. Malac

Ambassador (ret.) Deborah R. Malac is a career diplomat who served 39 years as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State. Most recently, she served as the U.S. Ambassador to Uganda (2016-2020) and the U.S. Ambassador to Liberia (2012-2015). Ambassador Malac also served overseas in Ethiopia, Senegal, Thailand, South Africa, and Cameroon as well as multiple assignments in the Department of State in Washington, DC. Most of her career was focused on sub-Saharan Africa and the challenges associated with fostering democracy, improving human rights, encouraging trade and investment, and supporting meaningful economic development. Throughout her career, Ambassador Malac worked with USAID, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Peace Corps and other U.S. government agencies and entities to build resilient health systems, broaden access to education, improve food security and create economic opportunity, especially for women and girls. Ambassador Malac retired from the Department of State in January 2020. She currently serves as Chair of the Board of the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Foundation and Secretary of the Board for Nyaka Global. She was born and raised in Savannah, Georgia.