A career member of the Senior Foreign Service with the rank of Career Minister, Sarah-Ann Lynch concluded her government career with over three decades of leadership in international development, diplomacy and defense. 

She served as U.S. Ambassador to Guyana from 2019-2023.  As U.S. Ambassador, Sarah-Ann played a pivotal role in navigating a highly contested election to uphold democratic processes and spearheaded commercial advocacy efforts that resulted in a dramatic increase in U.S. investments in Guyana.  During her tenure in Guyana, Ambassador Lynch served concurrently as the Secretary of State’s Representative to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), cementing relationships with leaders across the fifteen member states.  During her distinguished foreign service career, Ambassador Lynch also served as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director in Iraq.  Ambassador Lynch’s other overseas postings include Bangladesh, Peru and Afghanistan and she began her international public service as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Morocco. Ambassador Lynch’s final posting with the U.S. government was at U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) where she served as the Civilian Deputy to the Commander and Senior Foreign Policy Advisor where she offered strategic counsel on geo-political, political-military, and economic matters to the Command’s leadership.

Ambassador Lynch was honored with numerous awards during her career and is a two-time recipient of the prestigious Presidential Rank Award.  Her academic foundation includes degrees from Mount Holyoke College, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, and the National War College.