Teddy B. Taylor facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Teddy B. Taylor
United States Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, accredited to Solomon Islands, Vanuatu
In office October 26, 2009 – October 6, 2012
President	Barack Obama
Preceded by	Leslie V. Rowe
Succeeded by	Walter E. North
Personal details
Born	1953 (age 71–72) Washington, D.C.
Spouse	Antoinette Corbin-Taylor
Alma mater	Florida A&M University (B.A.)

Teddy Bernard Taylor, born in 1953, is an American diplomat. A diplomat is someone who represents their country in other nations. Mr. Taylor worked as the United States Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. He finished his role as ambassador on November 7, 2012.

Early Life and Education

Teddy Taylor was born in 1953 in Washington, D.C., the capital city of the United States. He went to Florida A&M University and graduated in 1975. While he was a student there, he joined the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

A Career in Diplomacy

Mr. Taylor began his career as a diplomat in 1978. His first job was as a Consular and Economic Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala. He worked there until 1980.

Early Diplomatic Posts

From 1981 to 1983, he worked at the U.S. Embassy in Panama. After that, from 1983 to 1985, he served at the embassy in Honduras. These early experiences helped him learn about different cultures and international relations.

Working in Washington, D.C.

In 1985, Mr. Taylor returned to the United States. He became the Deputy Director of Press and Public Affairs in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs. He held this position until 1987. Then, he became the Deputy Policy Officer for Latin America at the United States Information Agency.

From 1988 to 1991, he worked as the Deputy Director for East Asian and Pacific Assignments. This role was in the Bureau of Human Resources. He then served as the Deputy Examiner in the Board of Foreign Service Examiners from 1991 to 1992. From 1992 to 1993, he was a Special Assistant in the Visa Services Office.

International Assignments and Leadership

In 1995, Mr. Taylor was assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Budapest, Hungary. He worked there as the Consular Affairs Officer until 1999. In 2001, he became the Director of the Orientation Division of the Foreign Service Institute. He was the first African-American to hold this important position.

Soon after, he served as the Consul General at the U.S. Interests Section in Havana, Cuba. From 2001 to 2003, he was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State. He also directed the Office of Employee Relations in the Bureau of Human Resources.

Becoming an Ambassador

On September 21, 2009, Teddy Taylor was sworn in as the United States Ambassador to Papua New Guinea. He was also responsible for the U.S. embassies in the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. This was a very important role, representing the United States in these countries.

Personal Life and Hobbies

Beyond his diplomatic work, Mr. Taylor was active in his community. As a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, he often participated in extracurricular activities.

For example, when he was in Panama, he coached a basketball team for teenagers in the Panama Canal Zone. In Hungary, he was the Chairperson of the Cub and Boy Scout parent organization. He also taught merit badges and was Chairman of the Eagle Scout Board of Review committee.

Mr. Taylor was married to Foreign Service Officer Antoinette Corbin-Taylor, who has passed away. They had two children together. He is fluent in Spanish, Turkish, and Hungarian.