With a career spanning over three decades in the U.S. Foreign Service, Ratney has held numerous significant roles in American diplomacy, focusing on the Middle East, international relations, and public affairs.
Ratney joined the US Foreign Service in 1990 and quickly established himself as a key figure in American diplomacy. Over the course of his career, he served in a variety of high-level positions, including as US Special Envoy for Syria, Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Doha, Qatar and Consul General in Jerusalem. Ratney’s extensive experience also includes tours in Mexico City, Baghdad, Beirut, Casablanca, and Bridgetown, and he has worked in Washington, DC, on various initiatives related to the Middle East and foreign policy.
In April 2023, President Joe Biden appointed Ratney as Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, a role in which he served until January 2025. His tenure as ambassador was marked by efforts to strengthen US-Saudi relations and promote regional stability in the Middle East.
Throughout his illustrious career, Ratney has received numerous accolades for his outstanding contributions to US foreign policy and diplomacy. Among the honours he has received are multiple State Department performance awards, including the prestigious Presidential Meritorious Service Award, which recognises individuals who have made significant contributions to the advancement of US diplomatic efforts.
Ratney taught leadership on the faculty of the National Defense University in Washington, and was Dean of the State Department’s School of Language Studies. He speaks Arabic and French, is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and earned degrees from Boston University and George Washington University.
