Mark Toner

Mark Christopher Toner (born 1964) is a U.S. Foreign Service officer and former Spokesperson for the United States Department of State. He had served as the United States ambassador to Liberia.

Early life and education Toner was raised in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, graduating from the Salesianum School in nearby Wilmington, Delaware in 1982. He earned a B.A. degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1986

Career As a career Foreign Service Officer, Toner served overseas in West Africa and Europe. Toner was the Information Officer in Dakar, Senegal, the Public Affairs Officer in Kraków, Poland, and the Spokesman for the U.S. Mission to NATO, in Brussels, Belgium. In Washington, Toner worked as a senior advisor for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; as a Senior Watch Officer in the Department's Operations Center; and as the Director of the European Bureau’s Press and Public Outreach Division.

Toner currently holds the rank of Minister-Counselor. Toner became Deputy Spokesperson again on June 1, 2015. Following Rear Admiral John Kirby's departure as the Department's Chief Spokesperson on January 20, 2017, Toner became Acting Spokesperson. He announced the pass of the spokesperson baton to Heather Nauert on April 27, 2017.

U.S. ambassador to Liberia On March 27, 2023, President Joe Biden nominated Toner to be the next ambassador to Liberia. Toner presented his credentials to Liberian President Joseph Boakai on August 7, 2024.

Personal life Toner speaks French and Polish.