David Meale

David Slayton Meale is an American diplomat who is the current nominee to serve as United States ambassador to Bangladesh. Prior to join Bangladesh, he was Deputy Chief of Mission for the Embassy of the United States in Beijing.^[1] Prior to this, he served as the Chargé d'affaires for the embassy from July 2021^[2] to March 2022 - in this capacity, he was the senior United States diplomat in China^[3][4] while the Biden Administration's nominee for the Ambassador to China, R. Nicholas Burns, awaited confirmation. Previously, Meale served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Trade Policy and Negotiations at the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs.^[2]

David Meale
United States Ambassador to Bangladesh
Nominee
Assuming office Awaiting confirmation by US Senate
President	Joe Biden
Succeeding	Peter D. Haas
United States Chargé d'affaires to China, a.i.
In office July 12, 2021 – April 1, 2022
Preceded by	Robert W. Forden (Chargé d'Affaires, a.i.)
Succeeded by	R. Nicholas Burns
Personal details
Spouse	Lisa O’Donnell
Children	2
Education	University of Delaware (BA) National Defense University (MS) Tulane University (MBA)

Career

In December 2018, Meale became the deputy assistant secretary for trade policy and negotiations at the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, a division of the United States Department of State.^[5]

Meale visited Taiwan in April 2019, meeting President Tsai Ing-wen and speaking at the American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei during the 40th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act.^[5][6][7][8]