Speaker Biography
Ambassador Marilyn McAfee (Ret.) was a career foreign service officer from 1968 to 1998 with service primarily in Latin America. Assignments also included Washington and the Near East. Her overseas assignments began in Guatemala where she returned to serve as U.S. Ambassador from 1993-1996. Other postings included Nicaragua, Iran, Washington, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Chile and Bolivia. In Bolivia she was Deputy Chief of Mission. During 1996-97 Ambassador McAfee was Diplomat in Residence, Georgetown University. In June 1997 she was designated Assistant Inspector General for Inspections and subsequently Acting Deputy Inspector General, Department of State. She has been a member of special delegation visits to Morocco, Egypt, Jordan and at the invitation of the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, for the turn-over to civilian authority and launch of the U.S.-Iraq bilateral relationship.
In addition to the Presidential Meritorious Service Award for her work in Chile in support of the return to democracy, she is the recipient of the Department of State’s Distinguished Honor Award for her work in advancing the peace process and human rights in Guatemala. She also received the Department of State’s Superior Honor Award for her three years as DCM, Charge d’ Affairs and ‘Drug War’ Coordinator in Bolivia and numerous Meritorious Honor Awards. Ambassador McAfee was promoted to the Senior Foreign Service in 1983 and to Career Minister in 1997.
She received her Bachelor’s degree (with honors) in History from the University of Pennsylvania and her Master’s degree from the Johns Hopkins University. She retired from the diplomatic service in July 1998, but continues her involvement in international affairs as a private consultant, as Chair of the Advisory Council of the World Affairs Council of Jacksonville (where she served as Council President for six years) and on the National Board of the World Affairs Councils of America 2000 – 2008. Ambassador McAfee also served two terms on the Board of Directors, Jacksonville Seaport Authority. She is a board member of the Baptist Medical Center Beaches; the Foundation Board, University of North Florida and Community Hospice. She received the Eve Award for volunteer service from the Florida Times Union and is listed in Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in American Women. Ambassador McAfee resides in Jacksonville, Florida. She speaks fluent Spanish.
Reading List provided by Ambassador Marilyn McAfee
