Joann M. Lockard

Joann M. Lockard is an American diplomat who has serve United States Ambassador to Burkina Faso.

Early life and education
Lockard obtained her a B.A. from George Washington University and her M.S. from the National War College.

Career
Lockard is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, with the rank of Counselor. From 2020 to 2023, she served as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Previously, Lockard was the Counselor for Public Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Prague, Czech Republic, as well as the U.S. Embassy in The Hague, Netherlands. Other assignments in U.S. embassies include those in San Salvador, El Salvador; Almaty, Kazakhstan; Kampala, Uganda; and Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. In Washington, D.C., Lockard served as a Nordic-Baltic Public Diplomacy Desk Officer in the State Department.

Nomination as Ambassador to Burkina Faso
On July 25, 2023, President Joe Biden nominated Lockard to be the next ambassador to Burkina Faso. The entire Senate confirmed her nomination on May 2, 2024 by voice vote. She presented his credentials to Ibrahim Traoré on June 28, 2024.

Personal life
Lockard's husband, Aaron Lockard, is also a Foreign Service Officer. They have three children. Lockard speaks French, Czech, Dutch, Spanish, and Russian.