Henrietta Holsman Fore

director, United States Foreign Assistance

Henrietta H. Fore was nominated by President George W. Bush on May 7, 2007, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on November 14, 2007 as the new Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). In that capacity, she is concurrently designated by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as the Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance. As the first female Administrator of USAID, she is responsible for managing U.S. foreign assistance, including support to countries recovering from disaster, trying to escape poverty, and engaging in democratic reforms. She oversees a staff of approximately 8,000, of whom more than 75 percent are working overseas in USAID field offices. Earlier in her career Ms. Fore was a successful business woman running her own company and serving on the boards of public corporations. She was Chairman and President of Stockton Wire Products, a manufacturer and distributor of steel products, cement additives and wire building materials for the U.S. and European construction industry. She served on the Corporate Boards of the Dexter Corporation and HSB Group Inc., both listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Henrietta has a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Wellesley College and a Master of Science degree in Public Administration from the University of Northern Colorado. She received the 2004 Alumnae Award from the University of Northern Colorado and the 2006 Alumnae Award from the Baldwin School. She has also studied International Politics at Oxford University and studied at Stanford University Graduate School of Business. She is married and lives in Washington, D.C., and Nevada. She is a keen sailor and collector of antique Holsman Automobiles.