The Honorable Ruth A. Davis (1943 – 2025)

The Board of Directors and staff of the Diplomacy Center Foundation (DCF) are saddened to announce the passing of Ambassador Ruth A. Davis on May 3rd, 2025. She was a trailblazer and an inspiration to many – a legacy that will live on through her stories and through those she mentored. Ambassador Davis was a staunch supporter of DCF and its work on behalf of the National Museum of American Diplomacy. Her support was most instrumental during her latest role as a member of the Board of Directors of DCF.

Ambassador Davis had an inspiring and influential career as a Foreign Service Officer. During her 40-year career she was the first African-American director of the Foreign Service Institute (1997-2001) and the first African-American female Director General of the Foreign Service (2001-2003). She was also the first and only African-American woman to be named Career Ambassador, the longest-serving officer at that level and, upon retirement, the highest-ranking Foreign Service officer. She is also the first African American to be awarded the American Foreign Service Association’s Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy Award. She also served as chief of staff in the Africa Bureau (2005-2009), distinguished advisor for international affairs at Howard University (2003-2005), principal deputy assistant secretary for consular affairs (1995-1997), ambassador to the Republic of Benin (1992-1995), consul general in Barcelona (1987-1991), and as a consular officer in nations around the globe. Ambassador Davis established the Foreign Service Institute’s School of Leadership and Management in 1999, improved crisis management instruction and training for locally employed staff, and led the Diplomatic Readiness Initiative that boosted Foreign Service hiring. She also helped increase diversity in the Foreign Service.

Since her retirement from the Foreign Service in 2009, Ambassador Davis served as the chair (and a founding member) of the International Women’s Entrepreneurial Challenge, an organization devoted to promoting women’s economic empowerment by creating an international network of businesswomen. She also chaired the selection committee for the Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellowship at Howard University’s Ralph Bunche International Affairs Center, where she helped to oversee the annual selection process. Finally, as vice president of the Association of Black American Ambassadors, she participated in activities involving the recruitment, preparation, hiring, retention, mentoring, and promotion of minority Foreign Service employees.

"Ruth was a dear friend and colleague," stated DCF Chairman Tom Pickering, “I have always valued her wise counsel and admired her high standards of professionalism and dedication to the work of the Foreign Service. Ruth's legacy will always be with us and will serve as an inspiration to future generations. She will be greatly missed."
The Board of Directors and staff at DCF extend their deepest sympathies and condolences to the family and friends of Ambassador Davis.

Her memorial service will take place on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at Sixteenth & Decatur Church of Christ in Washington, D.C.