John R. Nay presented his credentials as United States Ambassador to Suriname to the Head of State, His Excellency Runaldo Ronald Venetiaan on October 16, 2009. Nay is the 13th American Ambassador to the Republic of Suriname.

Nay is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, and holds the rank of Minister Counselor. Before arriving in Suriname, Nay was the Consul General at the U.S. Consulate in Toronto, Canada. Prior to serving in Toronto, he was the Office Director for African Regional and Security Affairs in the State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs. He joined that office in April 2003, after serving as a Senior Inspector in the State Department’s Office of the Inspector General. He served as Minister Counselor for Consular Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, from 1999-2002, and as Regional Consular Officer for southern Africa based in Johannesburg, South Africa from 1996-1999.

In Washington,Nay has served as Deputy Director for Pacific Island Affairs, and previously as an analyst, working on Cambodia issues for two years and on Korean affairs for one year. Ambassador Nay also had previous stints as consular chief in Taipei, Taiwan and in Calgary, Canada, as well as earlier tours of duty in Singapore and Taiwan. Nay is language qualified in Chinese (Mandarin).

Nay holds Masters Degrees from Andrews University and from the National Defense University. He has received three Superior Honor Awards and three Senior Performance Awards.

He is a native of Michigan. Nay and his wife Judith Ashdon Nay have three adult children and one grandson.

Contact Information

United States Embassy Suriname
129 Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat
Paramaribo, Suriname

Phone: (597) 472-900
Fax: (597) 425-788

Website: http://suriname.usembassy.gov/