# MaryKay Carlson

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American diplomat

MaryKay Carlson United States Ambassador to the Philippines In office July 22, 2022 – January 16, 2026[1] President Joe Biden Donald Trump Preceded by Sung Kim Succeeded by Lee Lipton United States Chargé d’affaires to Argentina In office January 20, 2021 – January 24, 2022 President Joe Biden Preceded by Edward C. Prado Succeeded by Marc Stanley United States Chargé d'affaires to India In office January 20, 2017 – November 15, 2017 President Donald Trump Preceded by Richard Verma Succeeded by Kenneth Juster Personal details Born Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. Spouse Aubrey Carlson Children 2 Alma mater Rhodes College (BA) Georgetown University (MA) National War College (M.S.) Occupation Diplomat MaryKay Carlson's voice Carlson's opening statement at her confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to be United States ambassador to the Philippines Recorded April 7, 2022

**MaryKay Loss Carlson** is an American diplomat who served as the [United States ambassador to the Philippines](/source/List_of_ambassadors_of_the_United_States_to_the_Philippines) from 2022 to 2026. She was previously the [United States chargé d'affaires in Argentina](/source/List_of_ambassadors_of_the_United_States_to_Argentina)[2] from 2021 to 2022, after having served as the Deputy Chief of Mission in the country from September 2019.[3]

## Early life and education

Carlson graduated from [Rhodes College](/source/Rhodes_College) in 1985 with a degree in Spanish and international studies before pursuing an M.A. in international relations from [Georgetown University](/source/Georgetown_University) and M.S. in national security strategy from the [National War College](/source/National_War_College).[4]

## Career

Carlson with then-[Secretary Rex Tillerson](/source/Rex_Tillerson) in New Delhi.

Carlson is a career member of the Foreign Service, serving since 1985.[5] She holds the rank of Minister-Counselor. Carlson worked at the [Embassy of the United States in New Delhi](/source/Embassy_of_the_United_States%2C_New_Delhi), India[6] as the Deputy Chief of Mission for three years and Chargé d'affaires for two years.[3] She has also served at [U.S. Embassy in Beijing, China](/source/Embassy_of_the_United_States%2C_Beijing) (twice), [Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine](/source/Embassy_of_the_United_States%2C_Kyiv), [Consulate General in Hong Kong](/source/Consulate_General_of_the_United_States%2C_Hong_Kong), Embassy in [Maputo, Mozambique](/source/Maputo%2C_Mozambique), [Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya](/source/Embassy_of_the_United_States%2C_Nairobi), and the Embassy in [Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic](/source/Santo_Domingo%2C_Dominican_Republic). She had also served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. embassy in [Buenos Aires, Argentina](/source/Buenos_Aires%2C_Argentina). Her domestic assignments include director of the Secretary's Executive Secretariat Staff and deputy director of Korean Affairs.[5]

### United States ambassador to the Philippines

On February 4, 2022, President [Joe Biden](/source/Joe_Biden) nominated Carlson to serve as [US Ambassador to the Philippines](/source/US_Ambassador_to_the_Philippines).[7] Hearings on her nomination were held before the [Senate Foreign Relations Committee](/source/Senate_Foreign_Relations_Committee) on April 7, 2022. The committee favorably reported the nomination to the Senate floor on May 4, 2022. Carlson was confirmed by the entire Senate via [voice vote](/source/Voice_vote) on May 5, 2022.[8] Carlson was sworn in on May 26, 2022.[9] She presented her credentials to Philippine president [Bongbong Marcos](/source/Bongbong_Marcos) on July 22, 2022.[10]

## Awards and recognitions

Carlson has received numerous performance awards, including six Superior Honor Awards.[7]

## Personal life

Carlson is married to retired Foreign Service officer Aubrey Carlson, and they have two daughters, Kathryn and Karen.[5] She is a native of [Little Rock, Arkansas](/source/Little_Rock%2C_Arkansas) and speaks [Spanish](/source/Spanish_language) and [Chinese](/source/Chinese_language).

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [https://x.com/i/status/2012074634624082233](https://x.com/i/status/2012074634624082233)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Por Silvia Mercado (February 4, 2021). ["La nueva encargada de la embajada de los Estados Unidos fue recibida por el vicecanciller"](https://www.infobae.com/politica/2021/02/04/la-nueva-encargada-de-la-embajada-de-los-estados-unidos-fue-recibida-por-el-vicecanciller/). *infobae* (in European Spanish). Retrieved February 15, 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-USEA_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-USEA_3-1) ["Chargé d'affaires MaryKay Carlson"](https://ar.usembassy.gov/embassy/buenos-aires/ambassador/). *US Embassy in Argentina*. Retrieved February 19, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Gaye_4-0)** Swan, Gaye (August 8, 2019). ["MaryKay Carlson Charts an Unexpected Path Around the Globe"](https://news.rhodes.edu/magazine/summer-2019/marykay-carlson-charts-unexpected-path-around-globe). Rhodes News. Retrieved February 19, 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-DCM_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-DCM_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-DCM_5-2) ["Deputy Chief of Mission MaryKay Carlson"](https://ar.usembassy.gov/our-relationship/dcm/). U.S. Embassy in Argentina.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["US Embassy's Deputy Chief of Mission MaryKay Loss Carlson bids adieu to Delhi - Times of India"](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/events/delhi/us-embassys-deputy-chief-of-mission-marykay-loss-carlson-bids-adieu-to-delhi/articleshow/69787606.cms). *The Times of India*. June 15, 2019. Retrieved February 15, 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-WHBio_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-WHBio_7-1) ["President Biden Announces 3 Key Nominees"](https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/02/04/president-biden-announces-3-key-nominees/). *The White House*. February 4, 2022. Retrieved July 21, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["PN1766 — MaryKay Loss Carlson — Department of State 117th Congress (2021-2022)"](https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/1766?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22carlson%22%2C%22carlson%22%5D%7D&s=3&r=2). *US Congress*. May 5, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Antonio, Raymund (May 26, 2022). ["New US envoy to PH MaryKay Carlson sworn in"](https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/26/new-us-envoy-to-ph-marykay-carlson-sworn-in/). *Manila Bulletin*. Retrieved June 29, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Mercado, Neil Arwin (July 22, 2022). ["Bongbong Marcos, new US envoy discuss economy, food security"](https://globalnation.inquirer.net/205483/bongbong-marcos-new-us-envoy-discuss-economy-food-security). *Philippine Daily Inquirer*. Retrieved July 22, 2022.

## External links

- [Government webpage](https://ar.usembassy.gov/embassy/buenos-aires/ambassador/)

Diplomatic posts Preceded by Edward C. Prado United States Chargé d’affaires in Argentina 2021–2022 Succeeded by Marc Stanley Preceded by Sung Kim United States Ambassador to the Philippines 2022–2026 Succeeded by Lee Lipton

v t e United States ambassadors to Argentina Chargé d'Affaires Rodney Forbes Baylies Brent Harris Pendleton Minister Resident Peden Yancey Cushman Palmer Kirk Asboth Worthington Kirk White Osborn Hanna Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Hanna Pitkin Buchanan Lord Barrett Beaupre Eddy Sherrill Garrett Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Stimson Riddle Jay Bliss Weddell Armour Braden Messersmith Bruce Griffis Bunker Nufer Beaulac Rubottom McClintock Martin Burgess Lodge Hill Castro Shlaudeman Ortiz Gildred Todman Cheek Godard (a.i.) Rocha (a.i.) Walsh Gutierrez Wayne Martínez Mamet Prado Carlson (a.i.) Stanley Lamelas

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

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