On December 15, 2004, GW alumnus Ralph Boyce, BA ’74, was appointed as the U. S. ambassador to Thailand. Boyce entered the Foreign Service in 1976, two years after his graduation from GW, and has held several distinguished posts, including staff assistant to the ambassador to Tehran in 1977 and commercial attaché in Tunis in 1979. Boyce is no stranger to life as an ambassador, having served as U.S. ambassador to Indonesia from 2001 – 2004. He also served in Thailand, in various capacities, from 1988 – 1992.

Having assumed office only two weeks earlier, Boyce called on Dr. Surakiart Sathirathai, foreign minister of Thailand, to express his condolences to the Thai people and the Thai government over the heavy loss of life and damage inflicted by the Tsunami. He noted that Thai – U.S. relations have strengthened over the years, and he pledged that the U.S. government would work with Thailand to promote peace and prosperity throughout the region in the coming months. Boyce’s career experience will serve him well in this new post, and we congratulate him on his appointment!