David Nathan Merrill


David Nathan Merrill is a retired American diplomat who served as the ambassador of the United States to Bangladesh.

Early life

Merrill earned his B.A. from Brandeis University. He completed his Masters in International Affairs from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at the Tufts University. He completed a Masters in Public Affairs in Asian Economic Development at the John F. Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University. His wife is Irrum Mehmood Merrill.

Career

Merrill served in USAID in Indonesia from 1986 to 1989 as the Mission Director. In 1992 he was made a career minister in USAID, the highest position in the organization. He served as the United States Agency for International Development Representative to Burma. He served as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the People's Republic of Bangladesh. He was appointed ambassador on February 11, 1994. He presented his credentials to the President of Bangladesh on April 5, 1994 and served till May 14, 1997. Before that he was the acting assistant administrator of the USAID Europe at the State Department.
Merrill served during the first peaceful democratic handover of government in Bangladesh. He was received both the President's Meritorious Honor Award and the State Department's Superior Honor Award. He was also awarded the USAID's Distinguished Honor Award. After retiring from the State Department he worked as an consultant for energy companies in Asia. He is the President of the non-profit U.S.-Indonesia Society which works to encourage educational and legislative exchange between the United States and Indonesia.