# Harry K. Thomas Jr.

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American diplomat (born 1956)

This article is about the US Ambassador to the Zimbabwe. For the Washington D.C. Councillor, see [Harry Thomas Jr.](/source/Harry_Thomas_Jr.) For other individuals named Harry Thomas, see [Harry Thomas (disambiguation)](/source/Harry_Thomas_(disambiguation)).

Harry Thomas United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe In office February 25, 2016 – March 25, 2018 President Barack Obama Donald Trump Preceded by David Wharton Succeeded by Brian A. Nichols United States Ambassador to the Philippines In office April 27, 2010 – October 16, 2013 President Barack Obama Preceded by Kristie Kenney Succeeded by Philip S. Goldberg 27th Director General of the Foreign Service In office September 21, 2007 – June 24, 2009 President George W. Bush Preceded by George McDade Staples Succeeded by Nancy Jo Powell 21st Executive Secretary of the United States Department of State In office July 25, 2005 – July 27, 2007 President George W. Bush Preceded by Karl W. Hofmann Succeeded by Daniel Bennett Smith United States Ambassador to Bangladesh In office August 14, 2003 – July 2, 2005 President George W. Bush Preceded by Mary Ann Peters Succeeded by Patricia A. Butenis Personal details Born Harry Keels Thomas Jr. (1956-06-03) June 3, 1956 (age 70)[1] New York City, New York, U.S. Spouse(s) Ericka Ovette Mithi Aquino Children Casey Merie Alma mater College of the Holy Cross (BA) Columbia University (MS)

**Harry Keels Thomas Jr.**[2] (born June 3, 1956) is an American diplomat who served as the U.S. ambassador to Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Zimbabwe.

## Education

Thomas is a graduate of the [College of the Holy Cross](/source/College_of_the_Holy_Cross) and earned his Master's of Science in Urban Planning at [Columbia University](/source/Columbia_University). He also has an honorary doctorate from [Loyola University Maryland](/source/Loyola_University_Maryland), where he delivered the [commencement address](/source/Commencement_address) in May 2010.[3]

## Career

Thomas joined the Foreign Service in 1984. His early postings included service in the [US embassies](/source/List_of_diplomatic_missions_of_the_United_States) in [New Delhi](/source/New_Delhi), [India](/source/India); [Harare](/source/Harare), [Zimbabwe](/source/Zimbabwe); [Kaduna](/source/Kaduna_(city)), [Nigeria](/source/Nigeria); and [Lima](/source/Lima), [Peru](/source/Peru).[3] He also served as [Executive Secretary of the United States Department of State](/source/Executive_Secretary_of_the_United_States_Department_of_State), Director General of the [U.S. Foreign Service](/source/U.S._Foreign_Service), Director of the [State Department Operations Center](/source/State_Department_Operations_Center), and Special Assistant to the then-[U.S. Secretary of State](/source/U.S._Secretary_of_State) [Condoleezza Rice](/source/Condoleezza_Rice).[4]

Thomas served as [United States Ambassador to Bangladesh](/source/United_States_Ambassador_to_Bangladesh) (serving from 2003 to 2005) and Director General of the [United States Foreign Service](/source/United_States_Foreign_Service) (serving from 2007 to 2009), Thomas was designated by US President [Barack Obama](/source/Barack_Obama) on November 19, 2009, to replace [Kristie Kenney](/source/Kristie_Kenney) as Ambassador to the [Philippines](/source/Philippines)—the first [African American](/source/African_American) to serve at that post.[4] He was confirmed by the [United States Senate](/source/United_States_Senate) on March 19, 2010,[3] and presented his credentials to Philippine president [Gloria Macapagal Arroyo](/source/Gloria_Macapagal_Arroyo) on April 27, 2010.[5] He was then nominated and confirmed as the [United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe](/source/United_States_Ambassador_to_Zimbabwe) on October 22, 2015.[6] He was sworn in on December 8, 2015.[7] He returned to the United States from Zimbabwe on March 25, 2018, planning to retire from the Foreign Service.[8]

## Controversy

Thomas (left) with [Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs](/source/Under_Secretary_of_State_for_Political_Affairs) [William J. Burns](/source/William_J._Burns_(diplomat)) (middle) and [President](/source/President_of_the_Philippines) [Benigno S. Aquino III](/source/Benigno_S._Aquino_III) (right).

In September 2011, Thomas sparked outrage – while in post as Ambassador to the Philippines – by making the remark that "40% of male tourists to the Philippines go there for sex tourism", without publicly presenting evidence for this remark.[9] He subsequently made a public apology to the [Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines](/source/Department_of_Foreign_Affairs_of_the_Philippines).

## Foreign languages

Thomas speaks [English](/source/English_language), [Spanish](/source/Spanish_language), [Hindi](/source/Hindi), [Tagalog](/source/Tagalog_language), and [Bengali](/source/Bengali_language).

## Awards and honours

### Foreign honours

- [Philippines](/source/Philippines): Grand Cross *(Datu)* of the [Order of Sikatuna](/source/Order_of_Sikatuna) **(GrCS)** (October 14, 2013)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Michael Reardon (2007). ["THE PROFILE: Harry K. Thomas Jr., '78"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100530064037/http://www.holycross.edu/departments/publicaffairs/hcm/fall07/GAA/gaa4.html). *Alumni/Advancement*. Holy Cross Magazine. Archived from [the original](http://www.holycross.edu/departments/publicaffairs/hcm/fall07/GAA/gaa4.html) on 2010-05-30. Retrieved 2009-11-23.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Harry Keels Thomas Jr. (1956–)"](https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/thomas-harry-keels). U.S. Department of State, [Office of the Historian](/source/Office_of_the_Historian). October 16, 2013. Retrieved December 5, 2015.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-EmbPR_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-EmbPR_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-EmbPR_3-2) Press release (March 23, 2010). ["U.S. Senate Confirms Nomination of Harry K. Thomas Jr. as Ambassador to the Republic of the Philippines"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100601083759/http://manila.usembassy.gov/pr2010-0323.pdf) (PDF). Embassy of the United States of America, Manila. Archived from [the original](https://manila.usembassy.gov/pr2010-0323.pdf) (PDF) on 2010-06-01. Retrieved 2010-05-18.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Philsappt_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Philsappt_4-1) Agence France-Presse (November 20, 2009). ["Obama names envoys to RP, Singapore"](https://web.archive.org/web/20091123095744/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/topstories/topstories/view/20091120-237366/Obama-names-envoys-to-RP-Singapore). *Philippine Daily Inquirer*. Archived from [the original](http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/topstories/topstories/view/20091120-237366/Obama-names-envoys-to-RP-Singapore) on 2009-11-23.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Beth Day Romulo (May 11, 2010). ["Welcome to Ambassador Thomas"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100513082845/http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/256987/welcome-ambassador-thomas). *Manila Bulletin*. Archived from [the original](http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/256987/welcome-ambassador-thomas) on 2010-05-13. Retrieved 2010-05-18.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["October 2015 Senate Periodical Press Gallery"](https://web.archive.org/web/20151223190257/http://www.periodicalpress.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/October-2015.pdf) (PDF). Archived from [the original](http://www.periodicalpress.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/October-2015.pdf) (PDF) on 2015-12-23. Retrieved 2015-12-23.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [""Ambassador-Designate Harry K. Thomas Jr.", United States Department of State, December 23, 2015"](https://web.archive.org/web/20151223235618/http://harare.usembassy.gov/about-us/ambassador-designate-harry-k.-thomas-jr.html). Archived from [the original](https://harare.usembassy.gov/about-us/ambassador-designate-harry-k.-thomas-jr.html) on December 23, 2015. Retrieved December 23, 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["US Ambassador snubs Mugabe"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180719233529/https://southerntimesafrica.com/site/news/us-ambassador-snubs-mugabe). *Southern Times*. March 23, 2018. Archived from [the original](https://southerntimesafrica.com/site/news/us-ambassador-snubs-mugabe) on 2018-07-19. Retrieved 2018-07-19.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["US ambassador to Philippines apologises for sex tourism remark"](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/oct/08/us-ambassador-philippines-sex-tourism). *The Guardian*. October 8, 2011. Retrieved February 13, 2013.

## External links

- [Harry K. Thomas Jr.](https://x.com/AmbHarryThomas) on [X](/source/X_(social_network))

- Media related to [Harry K. Thomas, Jr.](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Harry_K._Thomas,_Jr.) at Wikimedia Commons

- [US Department of State biography](https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/199232.htm)

Diplomatic posts Preceded by Mary Ann Peters United States Ambassador to Bangladesh 2003–2005 Succeeded by Patricia A. Butenis Preceded by Karl W. Hofmann Executive Secretary to the Department of State 2005–2007 Succeeded by Daniel Bennett Smith Preceded by George McDade Staples Director General of the Foreign Service 2007–2009 Succeeded by Nancy Jo Powell Preceded by Kristie Kenney United States Ambassador to the Philippines 2010–2013 Succeeded by Philip S. Goldberg Preceded by David Wharton United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe 2016–2018 Succeeded by Brian A. Nichols

v t e United States ambassadors to the Philippines McNutt O'Neal Cowen Spruance Ferguson Nufer Bohlen Hickerson Stevenson Blair Williams Byroade Sullivan Newsom Murphy Armacost Bosworth Platt Wisner Solomon Negroponte Hubbard Ricciardone Kenney Thomas Goldberg Kim Carlson

v t e United States ambassadors to Zimbabwe Keeley Miller Rawlings Rhodes Lanpher Carson McDonald Sullivan Dell McGee Ray Wharton Thomas Nichols Tremont

Authority control databases SNAC

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Harry K. Thomas Jr.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_K._Thomas_Jr.) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_K._Thomas_Jr.?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.