U.S. Consul General

Biography

Paul A. Folmsbee
U.S. Consul General

Gujarati

Marathi

Foreign Service Officer Paul Folmsbee grew up in South India and Chiapas, Mexico so it’s no surprise that he chose a career path focused on international relations and diplomacy.  In the State Department, his assignments have included Dar-es-Salaam, Nairobi, La Paz, Colombo, Libreville, Port-au-Prince, Islamabad and Baghdad. In an earlier academic career, he lived and worked in Mexico and Guatemala. 

Prior to his assignment to India, Paul was the Department of State’s Provincial Reconstruction Team Leader for Sadr City and Adhamiya in downtown Baghdad, working on governance, political reconciliation and economic development programs. Prior to Baghdad, he was assigned to Islamabad, Pakistan where he was the Country Director for the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement program, which addressed counter-terrorism, police and judicial support programs and counter-narcotics efforts.  In Port-au-Prince, Paul was initially assigned as the Management Counselor and later moved to the Deputy Chief of Mission position, managing a large mission during a tumultuous period of instability. 

In addition to his diplomatic career, Paul pursued an earlier career in aviation. He attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and is a licensed pilot.  He holds a BA in Public Administration / Political Science from Tabor College in Kansas.  He also holds a Masters Degree in Social Anthropology from the University of Oklahoma. He has conducted fieldwork in Central America and Southern Mexico on the indigenous cultures of the region.  Paul remains very active in sports. He was a nationally ranked squash player and played wide receiver on his football team in college.