David C. Litt

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Biographical Details

"In 2005-2006 he was the third-ranking officer at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, with the title of Political-Military Counselor, providing policy advice to the U.S. Ambassador, and serving as liaison between the Embassy and the Multi-National Forces – Iraq. His final assignment as a Foreign Service Officer, prior to retirement in 2008, was as the Associate Director for International Liaison at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. Ambassador Litt entered the Foreign Service in 1974. He served as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (1995-1998) and as Consul General in Dubai ten years prior. Ambassador Litt was Political Advisor to U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida (1998-2004). While at the Department of State, Ambassador Litt served as the Director of the Office of Northern Gulf Affairs (Iran and Iraq), and also as Desk Officer for Saudi Arabia. In addition to a tour as economic/commercial officer in Kabul, Afghanistan, in the late 1970s, he served twice as political officer in Damascus, Syria. Just prior to his recent service in Baghdad, he was the State Department’s Diplomat-in-Residence at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina."

"David Curtin Litt, U.S. Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in October 1995. He presented his credentials in Abu Dhabi in October 1995, suceeding William A. Rugh. Ambassador Litt previously served as Director of the Office of Northern Gulf Affairs (Iran and Iraq). Ambassador Litt has devoted most of his 23-year career in diplomatic service to the Middle East. An Arabist and Afghan Persian speaker, he has focused particularly on the Gulf.

"Ambassador Litt has served as Consul General in Dubai, U.A.E. In his career he has served as desk officer for Saudi Arabia at the State Department. He also served in Afghanistan, and twice in Damascus, Syria. Other assignments include Palermo, Italy and Niamey, Niger where he served as Deputy Chief of Mission.

"Ambassador Litt received his B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an M.A. in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, DC. In addition to his Middle East languages, Ambassador Litt speaks several European languages including French and Italian.

"Ambassador Litt is a native of Pittsburgh. He is married to the former Beatrice Ilardi. They have two teenage children, Barbara and Giorgio. "

• Executive Director, Center for Stabilization and Economic Reconstruction