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United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom

United States diplomat

Field	Value
post	Ambassador at Large
body	the United States for International Religious Freedom
insignia	US Department of State official seal.svg
insigniasize	120
insigniacaption	Seal of the United States Department of State
incumbent	Isaac Six (acting)
incumbentsince	July 17, 2025
appointer	The president
appointer_qualified	with the advice and consent of the Senate
inaugural	Robert A. Seiple
formation	1999
website	Office of International Religious Freedom

The United States ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom is the ambassador-at-large of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom in the U.S. Department of State.

The position was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. The first ambassador at large was Bob Seiple who served from 1999 to 2001. He was succeeded by John Hanford who served from May 2002 until January 2009. Suzan Johnson Cook served in the role from May 2011 to October 2013. On July 28, 2014, President Barack Obama nominated Rabbi David Saperstein for the position. On December 15, 2014, the Senate confirmed him to the office, making him the first non-Christian to hold this post.

On July 26, 2017, the White House announced the nomination of Sam Brownback, then-governor of Kansas to fill the vacancy in the office. Five months later, the Senate had yet to hold a confirmation vote, so per Senate rules, he was required to be nominated again in 2018 in order for a vote to be held. He was confirmed to the position on January 24, 2018, on a 49–49 vote of the Senate, with Vice President Mike Pence breaking the tie in favor of Brownback.

Ambassadors-at-large

#	Image	Name	Appointment	Left office
1		Robert A. Seiple	1999	2001
2	[[File:Ambassador-at-Large John Hanford (cropped).JPG	60px]]	John Hanford	2002	2009
3	[[File:Suzan Johnson Cook official photo.jpg	60px]]	Suzan Johnson Cook	2011	2013
4	[[File:David Saperstein 2015.jpg	60px]]	David Saperstein	2015	2017
5	[[File:Sam Brownback official photo.jpg	60px]]	Sam Brownback	2018	2021
6	[[File:Rashad-Hussain-350x490.jpg	60px]]	Rashad Hussain	2022	2025

References

"Technical Difficulties".
[https://1997-2001.state.gov/www/about_state/biography/seiple.html U.S. Department of State. "Biography Robert A Seiple." September 11, 2009.]
[https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/113758.htm U.S. Department of State. "Biography John V. Hanford III." September 11, 2009.]
"Religious liberty ambassador's resignation raises concerns".
Dias, Elizabeth. [https://time.com/3046464/religious-freedom-rabbi-david-saperstein/ "Obama Nominates Rabbi to Religious Freedom Post"], ''[[Time (magazine). Time]]'', July 28, 2014. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
Campbell, Kay. [http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2014/12/rabbi_saperstein_confirmed.html "Rabbi David Saperstein confirmed as U.S. Ambassador for Religious Freedom"] {{webarchive. link. (December 19, 2014 , AL.com, December 17, 2014. Retrieved December 19, 2014.)
[http://www.timesofisrael.com/us-senate-approves-rabbi-as-freedom-of-faith-envoy/ "US Senate approves rabbi as freedom of faith envoy"] {{webarchive. link. (April 3, 2015 , ''[[The Times of Israel]]'', December 15, 2014. Retrieved December 15, 2014.)
(July 26, 2017). "BREAKING: White House: Trump to nominate Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback as ambassador at large for international religious freedom.". Associated Press.
[http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2017/dec/22/brownbacks-nomination-set-return-white-house/ Brownback’s nomination for ambassador post not carried over, will return to White House], Lawrence ''[[Journal World]]'', December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
"U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 115th Congress - 2nd Session".
The White House. (July 30, 2021). "President Biden Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Leaders to Serve in Key Religious Affairs Roles".

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