Samuel B. Thomsen

Samuel B. Thomsen
1st United States Ambassador to the Marshall Islands
In office
June 15, 1987  July 11, 1990
PresidentRonald Reagan
George H. W. Bush
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byWilliam Bodde, Jr.
Personal details
BornJuly 10, 1931
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Nationality United States
SpouseJudith Thomsen
ChildrenKaty Pistole, Samuel P. Thomsen, Robert Thomsen
ProfessionDiplomat
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Years of service195154

Samuel B. Thomsen (born July 10, 1931, in Saint Paul, Minnesota) is a former career diplomat who was the first United States Ambassador to the Marshall Islands, serving there from 1987 to 1990. Thomsen entered the United States Foreign Service in 1960 and served in various positions in the United States Department of State, and in diplomatic assignments to Vietnam, Laos, Botswana and Nigeria. While serving as Consul at Hue, Thomsen served as a political advisor to the commanding general of the U.S. Marines in Vietnam, Lt. Gen. Lewis Walt, from July 1965 to July 1966. During Thomsen's service in the Marshall Islands, the office of the U.S. Representative was upgraded to Embassy status.