Ambassador William M. Bellamy
Senior Vice President, National Defense University

Ambassador William M. Bellamy joined the National Defense University as Senior Vice President in August 2006 upon his return from Kenya, where he had served as the United States Ambassador since August 2003. During his tour in Kenya, Ambassador Bellamy directed U.S. counter-terrorism programs in the Horn of Africa. He also supervised the United States government's largest foreign HIV/AIDS program and led multi-national efforts to combat corruption and promote good governance in Kenya. Prior to this assignment, Ambassador Bellamy served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs from January 2001 to June 2003. He is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor.

Ambassador Bellamy's other overseas postings include Deputy Chief of Mission, Canberra, Australia, from 1997 to 2000, and Minister-Counselor for Political Affairs, Paris, France, from 1993 to 1997. As Political Counselor in Pretoria, South Africa, from 1991 to 1993, Ambassador Bellamy was closely engaged in U.S. diplomatic efforts to promote a peaceful transition from apartheid to democratic government. He served as Officer-in-Charge for South Africa in the State Department from 1987 to 1989 and as a political officer at the U.S. Embassy in Harare, Zimbabwe, from 1985 to 1987.

His earlier diplomatic assignments were as political officer, Paris, France, from 1981 to 1985, staff officer in the State Department's Executive Secretariat from 1979 to 1981, and Vice Consul in Naples, Italy, from 1977 to 1979.

Ambassador Bellamy holds a BA in history from Occidental College in Los Angeles and a MA in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University. He has certificates from the Institut Universitaire de Hautes Etudes Internationales in Geneva and from the Ecole Nationale d'Administration in Paris. Ambassador Bellamy is the recipient of two superior honor awards and a Presidential Meritorious Service award. His foreign languages are French and Italian.

Prior to joining the Foreign Service, Ambassador Bellamy worked as a journalist in San Francisco and as a public relations officer for a major California bank.