Jeanine Jackson is the current ambassador to Malwai. Previously, she has served in Iraq and received the Secretary of State's Distinguished Honor Award for leading the military to civilian transition effort. She is a retired Colonel of the U.S. Army Reserve. Ambassador Jackson has played key roles in countries in transition through adapting, rebuilding, and reopening different U.S. Embassies, including in former USSR countries, Kenya, Afghanistan, and Baghdad. In Burkina Faso, she assisted in accelerating the fight against al Qaeda, while strengthening ties between it and the U.S.