Donald Y. Yamamoto was sworn in as the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Djibouti on October 6, 2000. Prior to this appointment, he was the Deputy Director for East African Affairs from 1998 to 2000.

Ambassador Yamamoto entered the Foreign Service in 1980. Former assignments include U.S. Embassy Beijing as Ambassador’s staff aide and Human Rights Officer during the Tiananmen Square demonstrations in 1989; Japan as Principal Officer of the Fukuoka Consulate; and Eritrea as Chargé d’Affaires at U.S. Embassy Asmara in the Horn of Africa. He attended the National War College in 1996 for senior training and received a Congressional Fellowship in 1991.

Ambassador Yamamoto is a graduate of Columbia College and did graduate studies at Columbia University, receiving a Masters degree in International Affairs. He has studied Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French. During his Foreign Service career, he has received three individual Superior Honor awards and two group awards.