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Dorothy Shea
Dorothy C. Shea official photo.jpg
Official portrait, 2020
United States Ambassador to the United Nations
Assumed office
January 20, 2025
President Donald Trump
Preceded by Linda Thomas-Greenfield
Succeeded by Mike Waltz (nominated)
United States Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations
Assumed office
August 16, 2024
President Joe Biden
Donald Trump
Preceded by Richard M. Mills Jr.
United States Ambassador to Lebanon
In office
March 11, 2020 – December 28, 2023
President Donald Trump
Joe Biden
Preceded by Elizabeth H. Richard
Succeeded by Lisa A. Johnson
Personal details
Born
Dorothy Camille Shea
Education University of Virginia (BA)
Georgetown University (MS)
National War College (MS)

Dorothy Camille Shea is an American diplomat who works for the government. She helps represent the United States in other countries. In January 2025, she became the United States Ambassador to the United Nations. Before that, she served as the Deputy Ambassador to the UN in 2024.

From 2020 to 2023, Shea was the United States Ambassador to Lebanon. She received a special award in December 2022 for her outstanding work.

Education and Early Career

What Did Dorothy Shea Study?

Dorothy Shea studied at several universities. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Virginia. She also received two master's degrees. One was from Georgetown University and the other from the National War College.

How Did Her Career Begin?

Dorothy Shea is a long-time member of the Senior Foreign Service. This is a group of experienced diplomats who work for the U.S. government. She held many important roles early in her career.

  • She worked at the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem.
  • She helped people in Asia and the Near East who were refugees.
  • She also worked with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
  • Shea served as a political and economic advisor in Tunis, Tunisia.
  • She was a political officer at the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel.
  • She worked on democracy and human rights at the National Security Council.
  • Before becoming an ambassador, she was a top official at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, Egypt.

Ambassador to Lebanon

Serving in Lebanon

In October 2019, President Donald Trump chose Dorothy Shea to be the next U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon. The United States Senate approved her nomination in February 2020. She officially started her role in Lebanon on March 11, 2020.

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Shea with Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab in 2020

Public Statements and Reactions

Soon after she became ambassador, Shea spoke out about Hezbollah. This is a political group in Lebanon that the United States considers a security risk. Shea said that Hezbollah was making it harder to fix Lebanon's economy. She also said they were wasting government money.

In June 2020, a Lebanese judge tried to stop Shea from speaking publicly. He said her comments were interfering in Lebanon's affairs. He also tried to ban media from interviewing her. However, this decision was not put into action. The judge later resigned.

Deputy and Full Ambassador to the United Nations

Becoming Deputy UN Representative

On January 3, 2023, President Joe Biden nominated Shea for a new role. She was chosen to be the Deputy Representative of the United States to the United Nations. This meant she would also serve on the United Nations Security Council. The Senate approved her nomination on August 1, 2024.

Role at the United Nations

In February 2025, Dorothy Shea worked with the United Nations Security Council. She encouraged them to support a resolution about the conflict in Ukraine. This resolution was the first one passed on the topic in three years.

Personal Life

Dorothy Shea can speak French and Arabic.

See also

  • List of ambassadors of the United States
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