Thomas Nides
U.S.Ambassador to Israel
Thomas Richard Nides was born in 1961 in Duluth, Minnesota. He earned a B.A. in political science from the University of Minnesota. While in college, he worked as an intern for a future U.S. senator.
He was active politically, working on the 1984 presidential campaign for Walter Mondale. He later worked for the majority whip of the U.S. House of Representatives. During President Clinton’s administration, Nides worked in the office of House Speaker Tom Foley, and later for the chief of staff of the U.S. Trade Representative.
Nides joined the Federal National Mortgage Association, then went to Morgan Stanley before returning to Fannie Mae where he assumed the role of Vice President of Human Resources. Later, he was the chief administrative officer of Credit Suisse First Boston, the investment banking division of the Zurich-based company. He would later become the chief operating officer of Morgan Stanley.
President Obama nominated Nides to be Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources. He was confirmed by the Senate and sworn into office in 2011.
He was nominated by President Joe Biden to be Ambassador to Israel, confirmed by the Senate by a voice vote, and presented his credentials to Israeli President Isaac Herzog in December 2021.
He is married to Virginia Carpenter Moseley and they have two adult children. He is Jewish.
In the News…
United States Ambassador to Israel Thomas Nides said that America will “not tie Israel’s hands to defend itself against Iranian aggression.”
Speaking to the Foreign Press Association, he defendant President Biden’s decision to try to achieve a “diplomatic solution to the conflict.” He stressed that the U.S. will only renew a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with Iran if it was under the terms that the administration has laid out.
“We will not stand by and let the Iranians obtain a nuclear weapon,” he said.
Israeli officials have openly and vigorously expressed opposition to the deal, stating that they believe it sets up the Iranian regime for rapidly completing the development of a nuclear weapon.
Ambassador Nides, a Reform Jew, also highlighted what he called his “North Star” for his role as ambassador to Israel: “To maintain Israel as a democratic and Jewish state,” ideally through the achievement of a two-state solution.
Contact this Leader…
Did you pray for Ambassador Nides? You can let him know at:
The Honorable Thomas Nides
Ambassador to Israel
U.S. State Department
2201 C St NW
Washington, DC 20520
