Amb Jonathan Scott Gration

The son of missionary parents, Ambassador Scott Gration spent his childhood years in the now Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Kenya. Upon graduation from Rutgers University with a BS in Mechanical Engineering, Ambassador Gration joined the United States Air Force where he served from 1974 to 2006. During his early years in the Air Force, Ambassador Gration served as an F-5 and F-16 instructor pilot, including a two-year assignment with the Kenya Air Force in Nanyuki, Kenya. His staff positions included tours in the Pentagon and NATO, and a White House Fellowship. In 1980, he was selected by the US JayCees as “One of the Ten Outstanding Young Men” of America.

In 1995, Ambassador Gration took command of the 4404th Operations Group in Saudi Arabia, enforcing the southern no-fly zone over Iraq. He was in command when terrorists bombed Khobar Towers, killing nineteen Americans. In 1996, he was transferred to Operation Northern Watch in Turkey, enforcing the northern no-fly zone over Iraq. Ambassador Gration served as commander of the 39th Wing at Incirlik AB, Turkey and later commanded the 3rd Wing at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska.

In 2000 and 2001, Ambassador Gration was Deputy Director for Information Operations and Special Technical Operations in the Joint Staff in Washington, and then spent a year and a half as Director of Regional Affairs for the Deputy Undersecretary of the Air Force for International Affairs. From January to June 2003, he commanded the Combined Joint Task Force-West during Operation Iraqi Freedom. In August 2003, he was appointed Assistant Deputy Undersecretary of the Air Force for International Affairs. From June 2004 to October 2006, he served as Director, Strategy, Plans, Policy, and Assessments Directorate of United States European Command where he was responsible for military activities in 93 countries of Europe, Asia, Middle East, and Africa.

Ambassador Gration speaks Kiswahili and has an MA from Georgetown University in National Security Studies. He is a command pilot with more than 5,000 flight hours in the F-5, F-15, and F-16, including more than 2,000 hours as an instructor pilot. His aerial combat experience includes almost a thousand hours of combat time with 274 combat missions over Iraq. Ambassador Gration's 78 military decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, The Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart.

After retiring from the Air Force, Ambassador Gration served as the CEO of Millennium Villages (an organization dedicated to reducing extreme poverty), and then joined the Safe Water Network where he helped to provide safe water to vulnerable populations in India, Bangladesh, and Ghana.

Ambassador Gration was a national security adviser to the Obama Presidential campaign and served as a Special Assistant to the President. He also served as the President’s Special Envoy to Sudan from March 2009 to April 2011. On 19 April 2011, Ambassador Gration was sworn in as the US Ambassador to Kenya—he served in that role from May 2011 until August 2012.

Ambassador Gration remains committed to improving human conditions and to promoting American values wherever he can make a positive difference. He and his wife, Judy, live in Kenya where Scott is the executive chairman of Champion Afrik.