James L. (Buddy) Williams

James L. (Buddy) Williams

James L. (Buddy) Williams arrived in Santiago on June 25, 2010 to assume the duties of Deputy Chief of Mission for the U.S. Embassy in Santiago, Chile.  He is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor.

Mr. Williams served previously as the Deputy Chief of Mission/Deputy Principal Officer at the U.S. Interests Section in Havana, Cuba, as Management Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Damascus, Syria; in addition to assignments in India, Netherlands Antilles and Aruba, Denmark, Nicaragua, Italy, Ecuador, and Argentina.  In the State Department, Mr. Williams worked in the Executive Secretariat as Trip Coordinator for the Secretary and Deputy Secretary, and in the Bureau of Human Resources.

Mr. Williams is a native of Silver Spring, Maryland.  He is a graduate of the University of Maryland where he received his degree in Bachelor of Arts in Latin American Studies.  Mr. Williams speaks Spanish, Italian and Danish.

Mr. Williams is married to Frances H. McGlynn-Williams and they have one son, Skye.  In his free time, he enjoys fishing, skiing, playing chess, volleyball, and soccer.  He is also a certified scuba diving instructor.