Peace Through Knowledge

Center for Peace &
  Conflict Studies

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Wayne State University

Home

Home

About the Center

Programs

Events

Newsletter

Contact Us

Ambassador Peter Tomsen

Ambassador Peter Tomsen was President George Bush Sr.'s Special Envoy and Ambassador on Afghanistan, 1989-1992. He retains close ties with today's Afghan leaders, including President Hamid Karzai. Ambassador Tomsen was one of the last Westerners to meet with Commander Ahmad Shah Massoud before his tragic assassination in an Al Qaeda plot.  After retiring from the Foreign Service in 1998, he has been called to address Afghan issues in numerous TV and radio shows, lectures around the country and participate in House and Senate hearings on Afghanistan. 

In addition to his experience in Afghanistan, Ambassador Tomsen served as the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia for three years, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs in the Department of State, First Secretary in the American Embassy’s Political Section in Moscow, and was the U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission in China.  After two years as Political Officer in the American Embassy in China, Ambassador Tomsen served as the Director of the State Department’s Office of India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Maldive Affairs.  

Ambassador Tomsen graduated from Wittenberg University in 1962. After receiving a Master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh, he served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Nepal.