William M. Bellamy

William M. Bellamy joined CSIS in October 2007 as senior fellow in the Africa and International Security Programs. He came to CSIS from the National Defense University in Washington, D.C., where he was senior vice president until his retirement from the Foreign Service in September 2007. On October 1, 2008, Ambassador Bellamy became director of the Africa Center for Strategic Studies at National Defense University. A career diplomat, he was U.S. ambassador to Kenya from 2003 to 2006. During his tenure in Kenya, he directed U.S. counterterrorism programs in the Horn of Africa. He also supervised the U.S. government’s largest foreign HIV/AIDS program and led multinational efforts to combat corruption and promote good governance in Kenya. Ambassador Bellamy served as principal deputy assistant secretary of state for African affairs (2001–2003) and as deputy assistant secretary for African affairs (2000–2001). His earlier diplomatic postings include deputy chief of mission in Canberra, Australia (1997–2000) and minister-counselor for political affairs in Paris, France (1993–1997). As political counselor in Pretoria, South Africa (1991–1993), he was closely engaged in U.S. diplomatic efforts to promote a peaceful transition from apartheid to democratic government. He served as officer-in-charge for South Africa in the State Department (1987–1989) and as a political officer in the U.S. embassy in Harare, Zimbabwe (1985–1987). Ambassador Bellamy holds a B.A. in history from Occidental College in Los Angeles and a M.A. in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He has certificates from the Institut Universitaire des Hautes Etudes Internationales in Geneva and the Ecole Nationale d’Administration in Paris. He is the recipient of a Presidential Meritorious Service Award, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joint Distinguished Civilian Service Award, as well as a Distinguished Honor Award and two Superior Honor Awards conferred by the Secretary of State. Prior to joining the Foreign Service, Ambassador Bellamy worked as a journalist in San Francisco and public relations officer for a major bank in Los Angeles.