Nancy McEldowney

Nancy E. McEldowney (born 1958) is Director of the Foreign Service Institute, having previously served as Senior Vice President of the National Defense University, and as a diplomat and foreign service officer for the United States Department of State.

She returned to the State Department in February 2013 after her role at NDU. Prior to NDU, Ambassador McEldowney served in the State Department as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs. She was United States Ambassador to Bulgaria, from May 2008 until July 2009. Her appointment as ambassador was confirmed by the United States Senate on April 29, 2008 and she took the oath of office on July 25, 2008.

She had previously served as Deputy Chief of Mission to Turkey. Her prior appointments included diplomatic positions in Baku, Cairo and Bonn.

She also worked for the National Security Council, Department of State, and the Department of Defense.

She grew up in Clearwater, Florida, receiving a BA in Economics from New College in Sarasota. She later received a master's degree from Columbia University. She began her diplomatic career at the Department of State in 1986. Shortly after beginning work she travelled with President Ronald Reagan to the Reykjavík Summit in Iceland. In 1996 she was appointed to the National Security Council where she served as Director of European Affairs.