Updated April 2, 2008
Ambassador to South Africa Eric M. Bost
Eric M. Bost was sworn in as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of South Africa by President George W. Bush on July 20, 2006 after being confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Ambassador on June 29.
Ambassador Bost presented his credentials to South African President Thabo Mbeki on August 15, 2006.
Ambassador Bost previously served as Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services (FNCS) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Before his appointment to that position, Ambassador Bost served as Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Texas Department of Human Services (DHS) for four years.
As FNCS Under Secretary, Ambassador Bost was responsible for the administration of the fifteen USDA nutrition assistance programs with a combined budget of over $58 billion, including the Food Stamp Program, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, and the Commodity Distribution Programs.
During his tenure at the Department of Agriculture, Ambassador Bost led an expanded U.S. initiative to promote improved nutrition and food security in South Africa, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Hong Kong, Brazil, Tanzania, Swaziland, Mozambique, Uganda, Madagascar, Chile, United Kingdom, Argentina, Mexico, Israel, Italy, China and Japan.
A native of Concord, NC, Ambassador Bost holds a B.A. degree in psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an M.A. degree in Special Education from the University of South Florida.