Johnnie Carson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Johnnie Carson
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| 16th United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs | |
| In office May 7, 2009 – March 29, 2013 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Jendayi Frazer |
| Succeeded by | Linda Thomas-Greenfield |
| United States Ambassador to Kenya | |
| In office September 23, 1999 – July 6, 2003 |
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| President | Bill Clinton George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Prudence Bushnell |
| Succeeded by | William M. Bellamy |
| United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe | |
| In office April 20, 1995 – July 25, 1997 |
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| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Edward G. Lanpher |
| Succeeded by | Tom McDonald |
| United States Ambassador to Uganda | |
| In office September 18, 1991 – August 9, 1994 |
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| President | George H. W. Bush Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | John A. Burroughs, Jr. |
| Succeeded by | E. Michael Southwick |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 7, 1943 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Children | 3 |
| Residences | Reston, Virginia, U.S. |
| Profession | Diplomat |
Johnnie Carson (born April 7, 1943) is an important American diplomat. He has worked for the United States government for many years. He served as the United States Ambassador to several countries in Africa. From 2009 to 2013, he was the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs. This means he was the top diplomat for U.S. relations with African nations.
Early Life and Education
Johnnie Carson was born on April 7, 1943, in Chicago, Illinois. He is married and has three children. His home is in Reston, Virginia.
He went to Drake University and earned a degree in History and Political Science in 1965. Later, in 1975, he got a Master's degree in International Relations. He studied at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London.
Before becoming a diplomat, Carson was a Peace Corps volunteer. He lived and worked in Tanzania from 1965 to 1968. The Peace Corps is a program where Americans volunteer to help people in other countries.
A Career in Diplomacy
Johnnie Carson had a long and successful career as a diplomat. A diplomat is someone who represents their country in other nations. They work to build good relationships and solve problems peacefully.
He served as the United States Ambassador to three different African countries:
He also held other important roles in the U.S. government. He worked in the National Intelligence Council and as a Senior Vice President at the National Defense University. Earlier in his career, he had assignments in Portugal, Botswana, Mozambique, and Nigeria.
Carson received several awards for his excellent work. One special award was the "Champion of Prevention Award" from the Centers for Disease Control. He earned this for his leadership in fighting HIV/AIDS in Kenya.
Leading U.S. Relations with Africa
In 2009, President Barack Obama chose Johnnie Carson to be the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs. This was a very important job. It meant he was in charge of how the U.S. government worked with all the countries in Africa.
During his time in this role, he helped open the new U.S. Embassy in Juba, South Sudan. This happened on July 9, 2011. He also spoke about the importance of fair elections in Kenya, reminding people that their choices matter.
Johnnie Carson left his position in 2013 after four years. He then became a senior advisor at the United States Institute of Peace. He also works with the Albright Stonebridge Group. These organizations help promote peace and understanding around the world.
In 2015, he encouraged the U.S. and European countries to work closely with Nigeria. He believed this was important to help Nigeria stay stable. He highlighted the need to support Nigeria with its elections and security challenges.
