Dayton S. Mak
Dayton S. Mak | |
---|---|
United States Ambassador to Kuwait | |
In office 1961–1963 | |
President | John F. Kennedy |
Preceded by | n/a |
Succeeded by | Parker T. Hart |
Personal details | |
Born |
Sioux Falls, South Dakota | July 10, 1917
Nationality | American |
Spouse(s) | Julie Mak |
Children | Holly Mak |
Residence | Washington DC |
Alma mater | University of Arizona, University of Pennsylvania, Middle East Institute, Naval War College |
Profession | Diplomat |
Awards | Purple Hearts, Bronze Star |
Dayton S. Mak (born July 10, 1917) is a former U.S. diplomat who served posts in England, Libya, Lebanon, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Germany. He was the first U.S. ambassador of Kuwait. Mak was also former Director of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research, for Near East South Asia Affairs.
Biography
Mak was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on July 10, 1917 but was raised in Iowa. Mak served in the United States Army during World War II between 1941 and 1945. He was awarded two Purple Hearts and one Bronze Star.
In 1946, Mak joined the Foreign Service, serving as Vice Consul in Hamburg, Germany, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, Jidda, Saudi Arabia, and Tripoli, Libya. In 1962, Mak became the first U.S. Ambassador to Kuwait and was responsible for establishing the embassy. In 1969, Mak became the director of INR for near-east south Asia Affairs
Mak officially retired from the Foreign Service in 1970 although even till today, he continues to have strong ties with the US Government and State Department.[1]
Personal
Dayton Mak lives in Washington DC with his wife of over 40 years. He continues to stay active in the Foreign Service community and travels to The Foreign Service Institute each week. He has one daughter.
Mak was close friends with Francis Meloy, US Ambassador who was assassinated in Beirut, Lebanon. Meloy was best man at Mak's wedding.[2]
Service chronology
Position | Host country or organization | Year |
---|---|---|
US Foreign Service | 1946 to 1970 | |
US Foreign Service | Hamburg, Germany | 1946 to 1948 |
US Foreign Service | Dhahran, Saudi Arabia | 1948 to 1949 |
US Foreign Service | Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | 1949 to 1950 |
US Foreign Service | Tripoli, Libya | 1951 to 1954 |
US Foreign Service | London, England | 1954 to 1956 |
US Foreign Service | Tripoli, Libya | 1957 to 1959 |
US Foreign Service | Kuwait | 1961 to 1964 |
US Foreign Service | Beirut, Lebanon | 1965 to 1969 |
US Foreign Service (Bureau of Intelligence and Research Director) | Washington DC | 1969 to 1970 |
Publications
American Ambassadors in a Troubled World: Interviews with American Diplomats (1992, interviews, with Charles Stuart Kennedy)
See also
- Francis Meloy, the US ambassador of Lebanon who was assassinated.
References
- ↑ Mak, Dayton. "Ambassador's Oral History - US State Department" (PDF). US State Department.
- ↑ Dayton, Mak. "Oral History" (PDF).