William Milam
Encyclopedia
William Bryant Milam was an American
diplomat
.
Born in Arizona
, Ambassador Milam grew up in Sacramento
, California
and currently resides in Washington, DC. He received an A.B. from Stanford University
and an M.A. in economics
from the University of Michigan
.
Milam is currently Senior Policy Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
in Washington, DC. At the Wilson Center, he completed a comparative study of modern Pakistan
and Bangladesh
, "Bangladesh and Pakistan: Flirting with Failure in South Asia," published by Columbia University Press. He also writes monthly op-ed columns for Pakistan's Daily Times newspaper.
Prior to joining the Wilson Center, Milam was a career diplomat. He retired from the United States Foreign Service
at the end of July 2001 but was recalled after September 11 and spent nine months helping to set up the multilateral mechanism for the reconstruction of Afghanistan
. He was also recalled to serve as interim Charge de Affairs at the United States Embassy in Tripoli, Libya, prior to the re-establishment of a permanent American ambassadorial post to Libya. His last post before retirement was as Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
where he served from August 1998 to July 2001.
Ambassador Milam served as U.S. Chief of Mission in Liberia
from November 8, 1995 to August 23, 1998. During his tenure in Liberia, the seven-year civil war was brought to an end, free and transparent elections held, and a new democratically elected government took office. He was U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh from August 1990 to October 1993, and during that time witnessed the great strides that country made toward more complete democratization. From November 1993 to September 1995 he was U.S. Special Negotiator for Environmental and Scientific Affairs at the Department of State. In that capacity, he led the U.S. delegation that negotiated the 1994 Desertification Treaty
.
Prior to his appointment to Bangladesh, Ambassador Milam was Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Finance and Development with responsibility for international finance and development issues, including debt and investment, as well as intellectual property protection. He represented the United States at the Paris Club, the international forum for rescheduling official debt.
In his earlier diplomatic career, Milam served in Martinique
, French West Indies
; a previous tour in Liberia; in London
, and in Yaounde
, Cameroon
. His earlier Washington assignments included African affairs, international finance, and international energy policy.
From the Department of State, Ambassador Milam received the James Clement Dunn
Award, as the outstanding Class I officer (1981) and a Superior Honor Award (1983). He received a Presidential Meritorious Service Award (1990) and a Presidential Award for Outstanding Service (1991).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
.
Born in Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, Ambassador Milam grew up in Sacramento
Sacramento
Sacramento is the capital of the state of California, in the United States of America.Sacramento may also refer to:- United States :*Sacramento County, California*Sacramento, Kentucky*Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and currently resides in Washington, DC. He received an A.B. from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
and an M.A. in economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
.
Milam is currently Senior Policy Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars , located in Washington, D.C., is a United States Presidential Memorial that was established as part of the Smithsonian Institution by an act of Congress in 1968...
in Washington, DC. At the Wilson Center, he completed a comparative study of modern Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
and Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
, "Bangladesh and Pakistan: Flirting with Failure in South Asia," published by Columbia University Press. He also writes monthly op-ed columns for Pakistan's Daily Times newspaper.
Prior to joining the Wilson Center, Milam was a career diplomat. He retired from the United States Foreign Service
United States Foreign Service
The United States Foreign Service is a component of the United States federal government under the aegis of the United States Department of State. It consists of approximately 11,500 professionals carrying out the foreign policy of the United States and aiding U.S...
at the end of July 2001 but was recalled after September 11 and spent nine months helping to set up the multilateral mechanism for the reconstruction of Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. He was also recalled to serve as interim Charge de Affairs at the United States Embassy in Tripoli, Libya, prior to the re-establishment of a permanent American ambassadorial post to Libya. His last post before retirement was as Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
United States Ambassador to Pakistan
The U.S. embassy in Karachi was established August 15, 1947 with Edward W. Holmes as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim, pending the appointment of an ambassador. The first ambassador, Paul H. Alling, was appointed on September 20, 1947. Anne W. Patterson was nominated as United States Ambassador to...
where he served from August 1998 to July 2001.
Ambassador Milam served as U.S. Chief of Mission in Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
from November 8, 1995 to August 23, 1998. During his tenure in Liberia, the seven-year civil war was brought to an end, free and transparent elections held, and a new democratically elected government took office. He was U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh from August 1990 to October 1993, and during that time witnessed the great strides that country made toward more complete democratization. From November 1993 to September 1995 he was U.S. Special Negotiator for Environmental and Scientific Affairs at the Department of State. In that capacity, he led the U.S. delegation that negotiated the 1994 Desertification Treaty
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa is a Convention to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought through national action programs that incorporate long-term strategies...
.
Prior to his appointment to Bangladesh, Ambassador Milam was Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Finance and Development with responsibility for international finance and development issues, including debt and investment, as well as intellectual property protection. He represented the United States at the Paris Club, the international forum for rescheduling official debt.
In his earlier diplomatic career, Milam served in Martinique
Martinique
Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of . Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados...
, French West Indies
French West Indies
The term French West Indies or French Antilles refers to the seven territories currently under French sovereignty in the Antilles islands of the Caribbean: the two overseas departments of Guadeloupe and Martinique, the two overseas collectivities of Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy, plus...
; a previous tour in Liberia; in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and in Yaounde
Yaoundé
-Transportation:Yaoundé Nsimalen International Airport is a major civilian hub, while nearby Yaoundé Airport is used by the military. Railway lines run west to the port city of Douala and north to N'Gaoundéré. Many bus companies operate from the city; particularly in the Nsam and Mvan neighborhoods...
, Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
. His earlier Washington assignments included African affairs, international finance, and international energy policy.
From the Department of State, Ambassador Milam received the James Clement Dunn
James Clement Dunn
James Clement Dunn was an American diplomat and a career employee of the United States Department of State. He served as the Ambassador of the United States to Italy, France, Spain, and Brazil.-References:**...
Award, as the outstanding Class I officer (1981) and a Superior Honor Award (1983). He received a Presidential Meritorious Service Award (1990) and a Presidential Award for Outstanding Service (1991).
External links
- William Milam Biography, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
- Islam and America, Presented to the American Studies Conference, IslamabadIslamabadIslamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...
, 5 November 1999