Diplomatic relations between Cambodia and the United States have navigated a complex path over the past 75 years, encompassing periods of both robust cooperation and significant challenges. Throughout this extensive period, the Washington government has appointed a total of 17 ambassadors to Phnom Penh, commencing with President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s administration and extending through to the second term of President Donald Trump.
The relationship has witnessed both flourishing partnerships and moments of deep frostiness. Despite these fluctuations, the United States has consistently maintained its diplomatic presence in Phnom Penh, with 17 ambassadors serving in permanent roles up to November 2025. This diplomatic history includes two critical periods when relations nearly collapsed entirely. The first significant downturn occurred between 1965 and 1969, stemming from political disputes between then-Prince Norodom Sihanouk and President Lyndon B. Johnson’s administration. The second, and more prolonged, rupture spanned from 1975 to 1991, coinciding with Cambodia’s tragic descent into a genocidal regime, civil war, and the emergence of an anti-American government.
Currently, the U.S. Embassy in Cambodia is led by Charge d’affaires ad interim, Ms. Bridgette Walker. This temporary appointment follows the departure of Ambassador W. Patrick Murphy, who concluded his mission in May 2024. As of now, the U.S. government has not yet announced a new ambassador to the Kingdom. It is important to note that a Charge d’affaires ad interim assumes the responsibilities of an acting ambassador when an embassy’s top diplomatic post is vacant.
The following is a comprehensive list of the 17 ambassadors the U.S. government has dispatched to Phnom Penh since 1952, detailing their terms of service:
1. **Donald R. Heath**
Mr. Heath served as the inaugural U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia. He was appointed on June 25, 1952, and completed his mission in Phnom Penh in 1954, during the administration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
2. **Robert McClintock**
Mr. McClintock assumed the ambassadorial role on August 18, 1954, and concluded his tenure on October 15, 1956, also under President Eisenhower’s leadership.
3. **Carl W. Strom**
Mr. Strom was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Phnom Penh on October 11, 1956. His service ended on March 8, 1959, still within President Eisenhower’s administration.
4. **William C. Trimble**
Mr. Trimble was appointed to this position on February 16, 1959, and completed his assignment on June 8, 1962, under the administration of President John F. Kennedy.
5. **Philip D. Sprouse**
Mr. Sprouse began his ambassadorship in Cambodia on June 28, 1962, under President Kennedy. He concluded his duties on March 3, 1964, during President Lyndon B. Johnson’s administration.
6. **Randolph A. Kidder**
Mr. Kidder commenced his role as U.S. Ambassador to Phnom Penh on July 9, 1964, under President Johnson. His tenure was brief, ending on September 18, 1964, after which Alf E. Bergesen served as Charge d’affaires ad interim until May 1965, when diplomatic relations were severed.
7. **Emory C. Swank**
Mr. Swank was appointed to his position on September 3, 1970, and completed his duties on September 5, 1973, under President Richard Nixon’s administration. Prior to Mr. Swank’s appointment, U.S. and Cambodian relations were restored on August 16, 1969, with Lloyd M. Rives overseeing affairs as Charge d’affaires ad interim.
8. **John G. Dean**
Mr. Dean was appointed ambassador to Phnom Penh on March 14, 1974, under President Gerald Ford. He concluded his mission on April 12, 1975, just five days before the Khmer Rouge fully seized control of Cambodia. This marked the second instance of the U.S. severing diplomatic ties with Cambodia.
9. **Charles H. Twining**
Mr. Twining was appointed to his role on May 13, 1994, following the restoration of U.S.-Cambodia diplomatic relations in 1991. He completed his mission on November 20, 1995, under President Bill Clinton’s administration.
10. **Kenneth M. Quinn**
Mr. Quinn was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia on December 12, 1995, and concluded his assignment in Phnom Penh on July 25, 1999, also during President Bill Clinton’s presidency.
11. **Kent M. Wiedemann**
Mr. Wiedemann was appointed ambassador on June 7, 1999, under President Clinton, and his term ended on May 16, 2005, under President George W. Bush.
12. **Charles A. Ray**
Mr. Ray was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia on November 15, 2002, and his tenure concluded on July 11, 2005, under President George W. Bush.
13. **Joseph A. Mussomeli**
Mr. Mussomeli was appointed to the position on June 24, 2005, and completed his role in August 2008, during President George W. Bush’s administration.
14. **Carol A. Rodley**
Ms. Rodley was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia on October 24, 2008, during President George W. Bush’s final months in office. She completed her assignment on September 29, 2011, under President Barack Obama.
15. **William E. Todd**
Mr. Todd was appointed to his position on April 2, 2012, and concluded his duties on August 14, 2015, during President Obama’s administration.
16. **William A. Heidt**
Mr. Heidt was appointed on September 14, 2015, under President Obama, and completed his mission on November 28, 2018, under President Donald Trump.
17. **W. Patrick Murphy**
Mr. Murphy was appointed on October 19, 2019, during President Donald Trump’s first term, and concluded his tenure on May 18, 2024, under President Joe Biden’s administration.
