Ambassador Nancy J. Powell retired from the U.S. Foreign Service on May 31, 2014 after a thirty-seven year career. She held the highest rank in the United States Foreign Service, with the title of Career Ambassador. Her overseas tours include Canada, Nepal, Pakistan, Togo, India, Bangladesh, Uganda, and Ghana. Among the senior positions she has held are Ambassador to Uganda, Ghana, Pakistan, Nepal, and India as well as Director General of the Foreign Service and Director of Human Resources, National Intelligence Officer for South Asia at the National Intelligence Council, and the State Departmens Senior Coordinator for Avian Influenza. Ambassador Powell returned to the State Department for three months in September, 2014 to coordinate the agency’s Ebola effort.

Ambassador Powell is the recipient of the Homeland Security Service to America Medal for 2006 for Avian Influenza preparations and the U.S. State Department Arnold L. Raphel Award for 2003. Ambassador Powell graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1970. She currently resides in Lewes, Delaware.