Donald R. Norland

Donald R. Norland (deceased)was "a career Foreign Service officer who served as ambassador to four African countries, died Dec. 30 [2007] at Sibley Memorial Hospital after a heart attack. He lived in Washington.

"From 1976 to 1979, Mr. Norland served simultaneously as the ambassador to the three southern African countries of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland. Mr. Norland was accredited to all three nations but was based in Botswana.

"In 1979, he was appointed ambassador to Chad, which for generations had endured political turmoil because of civil wars and military coups.

"In the summer of 1980, a Libyan-backed coup in Chad led French military forces to evacuate Mr. Norland and other diplomats to Cameroon.

"Mr. Norland retired from the Foreign Service in 1981 but remained active in African affairs as a private consultant.

"He lent his expertise on energy and telecommunications projects in Sudan, Nigeria and Chad. He also worked with the Harvard Institute for International Development and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to help devise private-sector-led economic development.

"From 1987 to 1989, Mr. Norland headed the training program on African area studies at the State Department's Foreign Service Institute.

"He served on the advisory board of a fellowship program at Georgetown University Law Center to bring African lawyers to study in the United States...

"Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Patricia Bamman Norland of Washington; two sons, Richard Norland, deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, and David Norland of Falls Church; a daughter, Patricia Norland of Arlington; two brothers; a sister; and five grandchildren."

• Member, African Oil Policy Initiative Group