H. Douglas Barclay was sworn in as Ambassador of the United States of America to the Republic of El Salvador on November 12, and presented his credentials to El Salvador’s President, Francisco Flores, on December 18, 2003.

H. Douglas Barclay is sworn in as the US Ambassador to El Salvador by Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage as his wife Dee Dee looks on.

Prior to his Ambassadorial appointment, Mr. Barclay had served since 1961 as a Partner for the upstate New York law firm of Hiscock & Barclay, specializing in Banking and Administrative Law. He also served in several senior advisory positions at KeyCorp, a bank holding company with assets over $85 billion that Mr. Barclay incorporated in 1971.

He has served on the Boards of Directors of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), Mohawk Airlines, Syracuse China, Giant Portland & Masonry Cement Company, Coradian Corporation, Empire Airlines Inc. and Excelsior Insurance Company, and as Chairman of the Boards of Panthus Coproration, QMP Enterprises Inc. and Eagle Media Inc.

From 1965 to 1984, Ambassador Barclay served in various positions in the New York State Senate, including Chairman of the Codes Committee, Chairman of the Select Task Force on Court Reorganization, and Chairman of the Senate Republican (Majority) Conference.

Ambassador Barclay presents his credential to President Francisco Flores.

Ambassador Barclay served on the Board of Trustees of Syracuse University from 1979-2003 including Chairman of the Board of Trustees from 1992 to 1998. He has also served on the Boards of Trustees of the New York Racing Association and Clarkson University, as a Member of the New York State Economic Development Power Allocation Board, and as Overseer of the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government, which is the public-policy research arm of the State University of New York.

A holder of several honorary doctorates and numerous prestigious academic awards, Ambassador Barclay earned his bachelor's degree from Yale University and his J.D. from Syracuse University. Mr. Barclay is married to Sara Barclay and they have five children. He was born on July 5, 1932 and is from Pulaski, New York.