Ambassador Pamela J. H. Slutz, Retired, succeeds Ed Story as Chairman of the NAMBC. She was US Ambassador to Mongolia from 2003-2006, later serving as DCM in Kenya and as Ambassador to Burundi. During her 31-year career as a US Foreign Service Officer, she served extensively in Southeast and East Asia. As director of the State Department’s Office of East Asia Regional and Security Policy and Planning (1997-1999), Pam was in charge of assisting Mongolia to become a member of the ASEAN Regional Forum. Earlier, she was deputy director of the State Department’s Office of Chinese and Mongolian Affairs. Her spouse, Ronald Deutch, served at the U.S. Embassy in Ulaanbaatar as Deputy Chief of Mission, 1997-1999.

Pam joined the NAMBC after she retired from the Foreign Service/Department of State and was elected to the NAMBC board of directors at the Ottawa AGM last year.  Pam’s personal fascination with Mongolia dates back to her early interest in dinosaurs and the expeditions of Roy Chapman Andrews.  Her professional association with Mongolia began in 1996 when she first visited the country, in her capacity as the deputy director of the State Department’s Office of Chinese and Mongolian Affairs (1995-1997). Pam was also responsible for directing State Department funding to women’s issues in Mongolia, including strengthening women’s participation in the political arena and opening the first shelter for victims of domestic abuse.  She returned to Mongolia for short visits in 1997 and 1998, in part for policy reasons but also for family reasons -- to spend time and to travel around Mongolia with her spouse,  who was then DCM.
 
During her three-year tenure as Ambassador, Pam joined then Mongolia President Bagabandi in his Oval Office meeting with President Bush in July 2004 and, together with former Mongolia President Enkhbayar and Prime Minister Elbegdorj, hosted President and Mrs. Bush in Ulaanbaatar in November 2005, the first-ever visit to Mongolia of a sitting U.S president.  Pam counts among the other bilateral relations highlights of her tenure:  negotiating the 2004 bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), co-drafting and negotiating the Joint Statements between the U.S. and Mongolia of 2004 and 2005, and swearing-in new Peace Corps Volunteers. 

Pam cut the ribbon to open the NAMBC office in Ulaanbaatar (2004) and was a speaker and participant in several NAMBC events, including annual investor conferences in Ulaanbaatar as well as annual general meetings in 2005 (Pittsburgh) and 2006 (Ottawa).  Pam  is a graduate of Hollins University (B.A., Politics) and the University of Hawaii (M.A., Asian Studies and Political Science), where she was also an East-West Center Fellow.  She speaks French, Indonesian, and Mandarin.  Pam and Ron Deutch currently reside in Kerrville, Texas.   

Ambassador Pam Slutz
New Chairman