James D. Nealon

James Dinneen Nealon Jr. (born 1954) is an American diplomat who served as United States Ambassador to Honduras from 2014 to 2017. After his service as ambassador, he worked in the Department of Homeland Security from 2017 to 2018.

James D. Nealon Jr.
Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Strategy, Policy, and Plans
Acting
In office
July 10, 2017 – February 8, 2018
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byChad Wolf
United States Ambassador to Honduras
In office
August 21, 2014 – June 11, 2017
PresidentBarack Obama
Donald Trump
Preceded byLisa Kubiske
Succeeded byHeide B. Fulton (acting)
Personal details
Born1954 (age 69–70)
EducationBrown University (BA)
Boston College
AwardsSuperior Honor Award

Biography

Born in Virginia, the son of a land surveyor,[1] Nealon studied history at Brown University before studying at Boston College.

A career Foreign Service officer,[2] Nealon held posts in Canada, Uruguay, Hungary, Spain, and Chile before assuming his post as Ambassador to Honduras in August 2014; Nealon also served as the deputy of John F. Kelly, whilst Kelly was in charge of the United States Southern Command.[3]

After leaving his ambassadorship in 2017,[4] Nealon was appointed assistant secretary for international engagement at the Department of Homeland Security by Kelly in July.[5] During his time as assistant secretary, Nealon supported a policy of deploying Homeland Security agents abroad.[6] He resigned his post on February 8, 2018, due to his disagreements with the immigration policy of Donald Trump,[7] and, specifically, the withdrawal of temporary protected status for Hondurans.[8][9]

References

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by United States Ambassador to Honduras
2014–2017
Succeeded by
Heide Fulton, chargé d'affaires
Political offices
New office Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Strategy, Policy, and Plans
Acting

2017–2018
Succeeded by