Deputy Chief of Mission Rick Swart
Rick Swart assumed the position as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Chad on August 23, 2023. A career diplomat since 2002, Rick has served in Niamey, Niger; London, United Kingdom; Manila, Philippines; Geneva, Switzerland; Baghdad, Iraq; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and Washington, DC. His roles have included political officer (Niamey), desk officer for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Washington), humanitarian assistance officer for Africa (Geneva), and the focal point for several cross-cutting sub-Saharan Africa issues (Washington). In addition, he has served in various consular positions, including deputy consul general and consular section chief, in London, Manila, Baghdad, and Dubai.
Prior to joining the State Department, Rick was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Mali and completed a semester outdoor leadership expedition program with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) in Kenya. In the private sector, while based in Hong Kong and Beijing, Rick worked on architectural and design projects in Asia and later in Africa. He then worked for the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), working on elections organization in Africa. Originally from San Diego, Rick graduated from the University of Colorado with a BA in Philosophy. He has a master’s degree in African Studies from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and a master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College. Rick speaks Bambara and French.