Amy Tohill Stull: A Distinguished Leader in Diplomacy and International Development
In the field of global diplomacy and humanitarian assistance, Amy Tohill Stull stands out as a distinguished U.S. diplomat and executive leader. With more than 25 years of experience in international development, crisis response, and strategic leadership, she has earned a reputation as one of the most accomplished Senior Foreign Service Officers. Her career spans multiple continents, where she has directed multi-billion-dollar U.S. foreign assistance programs, rebuilt missions in challenging environments, and designed policies that bridge humanitarian needs with long-term development goals.
This article provides an in-depth look at Amy Tohill Stull’s professional journey, highlighting her leadership roles, contributions to U.S. foreign policy, and impact in promoting peace, stability, and resilience across some of the world’s most complex regions.
Executive Leadership and Diplomatic Expertise
Visionary Executive Leadership
Amy Tohill Stull is not only a career diplomat but also a proven executive leader who has managed organizational units ranging from 100 to 1,200 people. Her ability to lead teams in high-pressure, crisis-prone environments has made her a trusted figure in U.S. diplomacy. She excels at designing strategic visions, leading structural reforms, and enhancing performance through system improvements and people-centered leadership.
Throughout her career, she has been tasked with merging operating units, rebuilding missions from the ground up, and closing programs when required. Each endeavor has demanded innovation, resilience, and the ability to build trust with both local communities and international stakeholders.
Diplomatic Influence
As a Senior Foreign Service Officer, Amy Tohill Stull has consistently operated at the intersection of diplomacy and development. Her career demonstrates the importance of combining humanitarian principles with foreign policy objectives to create sustainable impact. Her diplomatic work has included forging partnerships with host governments, negotiating with international donors, and advocating at the highest policy levels to influence global aid agendas.
Education and Academic Background
Amy Tohill Stull’s foundation in international development is supported by her strong academic background. She earned a Master of Arts in Development Economics and International Development from American University, where she gained expertise in economic policy, aid effectiveness, and institutional development.
She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Government from Purdue University, which provided her with the analytical and political skills that later shaped her career in diplomacy and leadership. This academic training prepared her to address complex political and economic challenges in diverse global contexts.
Leadership at USAID: A Career of Service
USAID, West Bank and Gaza Mission
Currently, Amy Tohill Stull serves as the Mission Director for USAID’s West Bank and Gaza Mission in Jerusalem. Appointed in 2022, she has overseen the rebuilding of the mission after a three-year closure, restoring its operational strength and credibility.
Her leadership has resulted in the re-establishment of a program portfolio exceeding $1 billion, focusing on humanitarian aid, economic development, and peacebuilding. She has rebuilt staff capacity, restored relationships with the Palestinian Authority and civil society, and fostered new partnerships under the Middle East Partnership for Peace Act, a $250 million initiative designed to promote peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians.
Following the escalation of humanitarian needs in Gaza in 2023, she played a central role in coordinating aid delivery, engaging Israeli officials, and ensuring access for UN and NGO partners. By initiating donor forums and creating recovery frameworks, she demonstrated international leadership that catalyzed additional resources from other global donors.
USAID, Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance
From 2020 to 2022, Amy Tohill Stull served as Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) in Washington, D.C. In this capacity, she oversaw the U.S. government’s largest humanitarian response bureau, managing $8 billion in life-saving assistance and leading a staff of over 1,200.
She was instrumental in the bureau’s operational stand-up following the merger of legacy offices, a complex task that required organizational restructuring, systems integration, and cultural transformation. Her leadership enhanced efficiency, improved coordination with the UN and bilateral donors, and fostered partnerships with the private sector and international organizations such as the World Bank.
USAID, Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance
Prior to her role at BHA, she was Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance (DCHA). There, she led strategic and operational functions for programs totaling $8 billion and more than 1,000 staff.
She spearheaded the creation of the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance through consolidation of operating units, a landmark reform in USAID’s history. This included building a new field management structure, creating a humanitarian officer career path, and engaging Congress to support these institutional changes.
USAID, Nepal Mission
As Mission Director in Nepal (2014–2019), Amy Tohill Stull managed a staff of 120 and programs worth $115 million annually. Her leadership was pivotal during the 2015 earthquake, one of the most devastating disasters in Nepal’s history.
She coordinated U.S. search and rescue operations, developed a comprehensive recovery and reconstruction strategy, and worked with the World Bank and donors to establish a reconstruction trust fund. Her efforts helped restore public services, rebuild infrastructure, and reestablish livelihoods, making USAID a central partner in Nepal’s recovery process.
USAID, Afghanistan Mission
During her tenure as Supervisory Program Officer in Afghanistan (2013–2014), she oversaw a $1.6 billion annual portfolio at a time of significant political and security transition. She developed a three-year strategy to responsibly reduce USAID’s footprint, aligning with the Department of Defense’s drawdown, while maintaining critical support to Afghan institutions.
She also designed monitoring systems to ensure U.S. taxpayer accountability, secured buy-in from Congress, and led efforts to implement a $416 million flagship female empowerment program.
USAID, Jordan, Zimbabwe, and Central Asia
Earlier in her career, Amy Tohill Stull held supervisory roles in Jordan, Zimbabwe, and Central Asia, where she managed portfolios ranging from $100 million to $460 million annually. She played a central role in aligning U.S. assistance with host government priorities, supporting democratic transitions, responding to crises such as refugee inflows, and building public-private partnerships to strengthen local economies.
Her assignments in these regions strengthened her expertise in donor coordination, political negotiation, and programmatic innovation, further solidifying her reputation as a seasoned diplomat and development professional.
Impact and Legacy
Amy Tohill Stull’s leadership has been defined by her ability to adapt to rapidly evolving contexts. Whether rebuilding missions, responding to humanitarian crises, or designing recovery frameworks, she has demonstrated the qualities of a transformative leader.
Her legacy includes:
-
Rebuilding missions after closure – notably in the West Bank and Gaza, where she reestablished operations after years of inactivity.
-
Managing multi-billion-dollar programs across diverse geographies.
-
Innovating structural reforms within USAID to improve efficiency and accountability.
-
Strengthening partnerships with host governments, civil society, and international donors.
-
Promoting peace and coexistence through people-to-people programs and conflict-sensitive initiatives.
Conclusion
Amy Tohill Stull exemplifies the best of American diplomacy and international development leadership. Her career is a testament to resilience, vision, and dedication to global peace and humanitarian principles.
From Nepal’s earthquake recovery to Gaza’s humanitarian needs, from organizational reforms in Washington to peacebuilding in the Middle East, she has consistently proven her ability to deliver results that matter. Her influence will continue to shape U.S. foreign assistance and inspire future leaders in diplomacy and humanitarian affairs.
