The Association of Black American Ambassadors (ABAA) laments the May 3, 2025, passing of the U.S. Foreign Service’s first African American woman Career Ambassador Ruth A. Davis. She was a pioneering diplomat and great champion of opportunity for all through her contributions to ABAA and other organizations such as the Thursday Luncheon Group (TLG), that advocate for greater diversity in the talent that rises to the top of U.S. diplomacy. Ambassador Davis belonged to a generation of African American foreign service career officers who took on the challenges, overcame the roadblocks and succeeded with confidence, honor, and dignity.
Ambassador Davis joined the Foreign Service in 1969 as a consular officer. Early tours took her to Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo; Nairobi, Kenya; Tokyo, Japan; and Naples, Italy. Her career took flight with a series of groundbreaking assignments not previously held by African American women. This includes Consul General in Barcelona (1987-1991) in the run up to the 1992 Olympics and Ambassador to Benin (1992-1995). Other first assignments for an African American woman followed, including Director of the Foreign Service Institute, the education and training arm of the State Department (1997-2001), and Director General of the Foreign Service, the senior officer in charge of all personnel matters, including assignments (2001-2003). Ambassador Davis also was the first African American woman to be awarded the coveted American Foreign Service Association’s Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy award, among many other high honors.
Blessed with a sharp intellect, a robust sense of humor, as well as early exposure to travel with her family, and as a recipient of a Merrill study abroad scholarship at Spelman College, Ambassador Davis pursued her interest in foreign affairs by joining the State Department. During her 40 years in the Foreign Service, she always said she was very happy wherever she was, being in different places, meeting people and getting to know their cultures. “If you are somebody who gets out and really gets to know the people, you start to feel at home.” Ambassador Davis also was revered as a powerful speaker and mentored generations of Foreign and Civil Service employees, as well as local staff in her postings.
Retirement in 2009 did not slow Ambassador Davis down. She offered her wisdom and experience to many non-profit boards and enthusiastically recruited new diplomatic talent with a focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility through programs like the Charles B. Rangel, Thomas R. Pickering, and Donald M. Payne Fellowships, as well as the International Career Advancement Program (ICAP). Ambassador Davis will be remembered as a fierce advocate for justice, equal opportunity, and excellence in the workplace and the world. She fervently believed in people and in the promise of America, our diplomats, ideas, and highest values, to make the world better. Her spirit and legacy will live on to light the way for future generations.
May 8, 2025
