Eric T. Schultz

Eric Todd Schultz (born 1959) is an American diplomat and career member of the Senior Foreign Service who served as the United States Ambassador to Zambia from 2014 to 2017. He has held numerous senior diplomatic positions throughout his career, focusing on economic affairs, security, and U.S. relations with countries in Europe, Africa, and the former Soviet Union.

Early life and education

Schultz graduated with honors from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1982, where he wrote a senior thesis titled “Ethno-nationalism: Threat and Promise.” He later earned a Master of Arts in International Studies from the University of Denver. He is proficient in French, Russian, and Ukrainian.

Democratic Governance and Human Rights: Schultz advocated for Zambia to uphold its democratic traditions and human rights standards, encouraged open dialogue among political parties, media, and civil society, and supported the development of new generations of leaders.

Health and Disease Prevention: Under Schultz’s leadership, the U.S. continued its substantial support for Zambia’s health sector, particularly through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). By 2013, U.S. assistance had contributed about $2.25 billion to Zambia’s fight against HIV/AIDS, helping to save hundreds of thousands of lives.

Infrastructure and Water Access: Schultz oversaw the implementation of the Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact with Zambia, which focused on improving access to clean water and sanitation in Lusaka. He stressed the importance of Zambia maintaining democratic and governance standards as part of this partnership.

In December 2021, Eric T. Schultz registered as the initial agent and sole member of ETS Consulting, a limited liability company, under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) with the U.S. Department of Justice. According to the official filings, ETS Consulting represented interests in Ukraine, with Schultz listed as the individual empowered to act on behalf of the foreign principal - Ukrainian Federation of Employers of the Oil and Gas Industry. These FARA filings describe outreach, advocacy, and public relations activities. A report by the Quincy Institute on US lobbying by Russia and Ukraine mentions ETS Consulting as part of efforts coordinated by UFEOGI in its opposition to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and advocating for Ukrainian energy security in the United States, but attributes the majority of lobbying and public relations efforts to other US firms. ETS Consulting played a supporting but integral role in the broader campaign to safeguard Ukraine’s energy sector and advocate for U.S. policies aligned with Ukrainian interests.