The US president, Donald Trump, announced on 30 September his intent to nominate William E. Grayson as the American ambassador to Estonia.
According to the White House press release, William Ellison Grayson currently works as the national director of the Family Offices of Bernstein Private Wealth Management in San Francisco, CA.
Served four presidents
“In a long career of public service, … Grayson has served four [p]residents,” the White House said, adding that he was appointed by Trump to the Presidio Trust Board of Directors in San Francisco, where he was elected Board Chair by his fellow directors.
During the Obama administration, Grayson served as a regional panelist for the White House Fellows Commission. President George W. Bush appointed Grayson as a commissioner on the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships and nominated him to the Internal Revenue Service Oversight Board, the White House said.
As Principal Deputy General Counsel of the Army under President George H.W. Bush, Grayson oversaw the US Army’s 2,700 lawyers.
The potential new US ambassador to Estonia received his bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and his doctorate degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law.
No ambassador since June 2018
He is the recipient of the Outstanding Civilian Service Award from the Secretary of the Army, the White House added.
The previous US ambassador to Estonia, James Melville, resigned his post in June 2018 over president Trump’s comments about the European Union and NATO.
In September 2017, Trump announced his intent to name the retired rear admiral, Estonian-American Edward “Sonny” Masso as the next ambassador to Estonia. However, on 24 May 2018, over eight months after nominating the former admiral as the next ambassador, the White House somewhat mysteriously sent a notice of withdrawal to the Senate. No reason for the withdrawal was given.
The United States hasn’t had an ambassador in Estonia since Melville’s resignation in June 2018.
Grayson’s nomination will have to be confirmed by the US Senate.
Cover: Donald Trump speaking at a rally in Fountain Hills, Arizona, in March 2016. Courtesy of Gage Skidmore/Wikipedia.
