Margaret McElligott  is a career member of the U.S. Foreign Service, serving most recently as Acting Deputy Political Coordinator at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in New York (USUN/NY).

She was also the Political Advisor for Central and Southern Africa at USUN/NY, where she represented the United States during UN Security Council negotiations on peacekeeping and sanctions.

In Washington, Margaret worked as the Uganda Desk Officer and as a Watch Officer in the Operations Center.  Overseas, she served in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Bamako, Mali.  She has received Meritorious and Superior Honor Awards from the Department of State.

Before entering government service, Margaret worked in journalism at The Washington Post and AllAfrica.com.  She earned a bachelor’s degree in international studies and a master’s degree in international development from American University.  Margaret is married, and she grew up in Freeport, IL.