Davis was appointed a United States Foreign Service officer in 1955. He proceeded to get married before arriving at his first posting in Jakarta. Over the years, he would be posted in Poland multiple times, as well as Milan, Rome, and Sydney. In 1982, he visited China with John H. Holdridge.
Poland
Davis was first posted to Poland from 1960 to 1963, before returning again from 1973 to 1976. During these trips, his children became fluent in Polish, and Davis became well-known.
Chargé d'affaires
With the departure of Ambassador Francis J. Meehan during the imposition of martial law in Poland, and the subsequent Polish refusal to accept his announced successor, the United States lacked a permanent representative in Poland. Thus, Davis was sent by President Reagan as the United States chargé d'affaires, beginning in September. As chargé, Davis shepherded the movement toward democracy along: hosting leaders of Solidarity in his residence, dealing with matters regarding economic sanctions relief, meeting with Lech Wałęsa after the latter won the Nobel Peace Prize that year, and fostering bilateral cooperation in exchange for amnesty of dissidents.
Ambassador
In October 1987, President Reagan nominated Davis to permanently hold the position of United States Ambassador to Poland. The 100th United States Congress accepted his nomination in February of the next year, and, on March 18, Davis presented his diplomatic credentials, thus becoming the first permanent ambassador in five years. As ambassador, Davis continued his work with the democracy movement, cultivating a deeper relationship with Wałęsa, helping bring Polish Round Table Agreement participants together, and increasing economic ties to the United States. Davis ended his service in Poland in July 1990, at the impending appointment of his successor, Thomas W. Simons Jr.. Davis received the Distinguished Honor Award; and took a year off to be a diplomat-in-residence at Yale University.
Romania
In May 1990, George H. W. Bush appointed Davis as the United States Ambassador to Romania. Davis presented his credentials on March 11, 1992, where he again nurtured democracy, before leaving in August 1994. During his time as ambassador, he was concerned about Harold James Nicholson, a well-founded fear, given that Nicholson was a Russian spy.
Personal life
Davis married Helen Marie Carey in 1956. They have three children.
