Molly Phee, a distinguished career member of the Senior Foreign Service with the rank of Minister Counselor, was sworn in as the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs on September 30, 2021. Prior to this role, she served as the Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation. From 2015 to 2017, she was the U.S. Ambassador to South Sudan, demonstrating her deep commitment to fostering peace and stability in the region.

Ambassador Phee has an extensive diplomatic career. She was the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and served as Chief of Staff in the Office of the Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan. Additionally, she has held roles as the Acting Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs and as Deputy Security Council Coordinator at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, where she managed UN engagement in Africa and the Middle East.

Earlier in her career, Phee contributed significantly to the National Security Council as Director for Iraq and as the Senior Civilian Representative of the Coalition Provisional Authority to Maysan Province, Iraq. She began her diplomatic journey at the U.S. Embassy in Amman, Jordan, and subsequently served in Cairo, Egypt, and Kuwait City, Kuwai, where her proficiency in Arabic was of immense use. A native of Chicago, Illinois Ambassador Phee is an alumna of Indiana University and holds a Master’s degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. Her exemplary service has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Distinguished Honor Award, the Robert C. Frasure Memorial Award for conflict resolution and peacemaking, the Baker-Wilkins Award for Outstanding Deputy Chief of Mission, the Secretary of Defense Meritorious Civilian Service Award, the Order of the British Empire Award, and a Presidential Rank Award.