Keith E. Simmons is a retired Foreign Service Officer at the rank of Minister Counselor and presently serves as the Acting Mission Director, USAID/Tajikistan. He has over 40 years of experience in international development with USAID, the State Department, and U.S. Peace Corps.  Prior to coming to Tajikistan, Keith served as the Acting Mission Director, USAID/India. He also served as short- and long-term USAID Mission Director in countries across Europe, Eurasia, and in Africa where he assisted in achieving democratic and economic reform transitions. Keith was also Acting Deputy Chief of Mission in Armenia and Serbia, and served as Chargé d’Affaires in Serbia. Keith has a Bachelors in Liberal Arts from California State University; Master of Social Work from Wayne State University; and an MBA from National University, Sacramento. He was presented with the USAID Distinguished Career Achievement Award in 2008, and Movses Khorenatsi Medal from the President of Armenia for contribution to Armenia’s socioeconomic development. He can speak French, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Armenian, and Serbo-Croatian.