Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley
Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer of the United States Department of State
In office April 12, 2021 – June 30, 2023
President	Joe Biden
Preceded by	Position established
United States Ambassador to Malta
In office May 2, 2012 – January 26, 2016
President	Barack Obama
Preceded by	Douglas Kmiec
Succeeded by	G. Kathleen Hill
Personal details
Born	Gina Kay Abercrombie 1957 (age 67–68) Cleveland Heights, Ohio, U.S.
Spouse	Gerard Winstanley ​ (m. 1982)​
Children	2
Education	George Washington University (BA) Johns Hopkins University (MA)

Gina Kay Abercrombie-Winstanley, born in 1957, is an American diplomat. A diplomat is someone who represents their country in other nations. She served as the U.S. Ambassador to Malta from 2012 to 2016. Later, in 2021, she became the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer for the United States Department of State. This role means she helped make sure everyone at the State Department felt welcome and included.

Early Life and Education

Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley was born Gina Kay Abercrombie in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. She went to Cleveland Heights High School. During high school, she took part in an international exchange program in Israel.

After high school, she attended George Washington University. There, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. She also earned a Master of Arts degree in international relations from Johns Hopkins University.

Career as a Diplomat

Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley speaking in 2021.

After finishing her studies, Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley joined the Peace Corps. She volunteered in Oman, a country in the Middle East.

In 1985, she joined the United States Foreign Service. This is a group of people who work for the U.S. government in other countries. Her first assignment was in Baghdad, Iraq. She then worked at U.S. embassies in Jakarta, Indonesia, and Cairo, Egypt.

She returned to the U.S. to work as a Special Assistant for Middle Eastern and African Affairs. This role involved helping with important issues in those regions. After a year of learning Arabic in Tunisia, she became a political officer at the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel. There, she focused on relations between Israel and Palestine. From 1997 to 1998, she worked with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

From 1998 to 2000, she worked for the United States National Security Council. She was a director for the Arabian Peninsula and later for legislative affairs.

From 2002 to 2005, Abercrombie-Winstanley served as the consul general in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. She was the first woman to hold this position there. While in Jeddah, she showed great bravery during an attack on the U.S. consulate in December 2004. She was later honored for her courage.

After that, she worked as a director for Middle East Area studies. She also spent two years as a director for countries like Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. From 2008 to 2012, she was a deputy coordinator for counterterrorism.

In 2012, President Barack Obama chose her to be the U.S. Ambassador to Malta. She served in this important role from May 2, 2012, until January 26, 2016.

On April 12, 2021, she was sworn in for a new role. She became the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer for the United States Department of State. She worked under Secretary Antony Blinken in this position until June 30, 2023.

Personal Life

Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley married Gerard A. Winstanley in 1982. They have two adult children.

Honors and Awards

Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley has received many awards for her excellent work. These include Senior Performance Pay, Meritorious, and Superior Honor Awards. One special award was for her "acts of courage" during the attack on the U.S. Consulate General in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in 2004. She also received the Foreign Policy for America's Community Leadership Award. She was recognized as a Peace Corps Woman of Achievement. Both Johns Hopkins University and George Washington University honored her as a distinguished alumna.