Robert S. Gilchrist

Robert Stuart Gilchrist (born 1964) is an American diplomat who had served as the principal deputy assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights, and labor from September 2023 to August 2024. He served as the United States ambassador to Lithuania from February 2020 to August 2023. He is a career Foreign Service Officer with the rank of minister counselor. He was appointed by President Donald Trump and confirmed by the United States Senate on December 20, 2019. Gilchrist was the fifth US ambassador from the LGBT community nominated to serve by the Trump administration.

Early life and education

Gilchrist earned a Bachelor of Arts from Wake Forest University and a Master of Arts from the University of Virginia.

Career

Gilchrist was director of the United States Department of State Operations Center, deputy chief of mission of the United States embassy in Sweden, deputy chief of mission of the United States embassy in Estonia, and the director of Nordic and Baltic Affairs in the State Department's Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs. Among his earlier assignments, he was deputy political counselor at the United States embassy in Iraq, chief of the political section of the United States embassy in Romania, and a special assistant in the Office of the deputy secretary of state. Russian hostility was a central topic during his confirmation hearings. On December 19, 2019, his nomination was confirmed in the Senate by voice vote. Gilchrist was the fifth LGBT ambassador confirmed under the Trump administration. He presented his credentials to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda on February 4, 2020. He left office in August 12, 2023.

U.S. State Department Gilchrist had served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.

Personal life Gilchrist speaks Spanish, French, Estonian, and Romanian.