Ambassador Maura Connelly is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service. Most recently, she served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Lebanon from 2010-13. Previously, she was a Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs with responsibility for the Levant, Israel, and Egypt. Prior to her return to Washington, she was the Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Damascus, Syria (2008-09). Ms. Connelly has also served as the Political Minister-Counselor for the U.S. Embassy in London, U.K. (2005-08) and was the Deputy Principal Officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem (2003-05). Other positions included Deputy Counselor for Political Affairs for the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in New York (2001-03), Regional Refugee Coordinator based in Amman, Jordan (1997-2000), Political Chief in Jerusalem (1993-96), Political Officer in Algiers, Algeria (1988-90), and Consular Officer in Johannesburg, South Africa (1985-87).

Connelly received a B.S. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and a Masters in National Security Studies from the U.S. Naval War College.