Richard Mills

Richard M Mills Jr served as US ambassador to Nigeria from 2024 to 2026. He previously served as US ambassador to Armenia and as US deputy permanent representative to the United Nations with ambassadorial rank.

He joined the US Foreign Service in 1988 and, before retiring in April 2026, served in diplomatic positions ranging from senior democracy adviser at the US Embassy in Baghdad to energy attaché at the US Embassy in Riyadh. He also served as a member of former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright’s executive staff.

Among his senior overseas assignments were chargé d’affaires ad interim at the US Mission to Canada, deputy chief of mission at the US Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, and chargé d’affaires ad interim at the US Embassy in Valletta, Malta.

Mills earned a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University, a law degree from University of Texas School of Law and a master's degree in national security policy from National Defense University. During his career, he received nine Superior Honor Awards from the US Department of State.