New U.S. Ambassador to Qatar arrived at HIA
Dana Shell Smith was confirmed by the Senate as the U.S. Ambassador to Qatar on July 10, 2014. She is currently in Qatar and landed only this evening at Hamad International Airport.
Previously, she served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs from 2011 to 2014 and as Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Media.
Prior to her assignments in the Bureau of Public Affairs, Ambassador Smith was the Department's Regional Arabic Language Spokesperson in Dubai.
She served in a number of positions including as Senior Advisor to the Director General and overseas tours of duty in Taipei, Amman, Tel Aviv/Gaza, and Cairo.
Ambassador Smith is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, and speaks Arabic, Chinese, Spanish and Hebrew. She is a graduate of the University of California at San Diego.
Ambassador Smith is married to Diplomatic Security Officer Ray Smith and they have two children.
Smith on Twitter
Just landed at Hamad International Airport. I’m honored to represent the USA in #Qatar!
— Dana Shell Smith (@AmbDana) August 19, 2014@qatarliving Ahlan bikum, @QatarLiving! I look forward to taking part in Qatar’s vibrant cultural scene.
— Dana Shell Smith (@AmbDana) August 18, 2014
