David E. Eckerson

David E. Eckerson was sworn in as mission director for Uganda in July 2008. USAID’s Uganda program is among the largest in Africa and includes projects to support U.S. foreign policy objectives in peace and security, governing justly and democratically, health, education, and economic growth. 

As a minister counselor and member of the U.S. Senior Foreign Service, Eckerson has served as USAID’s director of the Office of Human Resources and the Office of Strategic and Program Planning in Washington, DC, from 2002 to 2007. Prior to that, Eckerson was the acting director and the deputy mission director for USAID/Ethiopia from 1996 to 2000. He also was deputy director in the Office of Caribbean Affairs in Washington, DC, from 1994 to 1996. Eckerson began his career at USAID through the International Development Intern program in 1987, where he served in Haiti.

Prior to joining the Foreign Service, Eckerson worked as a public health and nutrition advisor with the USAID Africa Bureau, the TransCentury Corporation, and the Ministry of Planning in Yaounde, Cameroon. 

Eckerson obtained an undergraduate degree in Political Science and History from Hiram College in 1970 and his Master of Arts in Culture and Values in Religion from Christian Theological Seminary in 1972.  He also served as Peace Corps Volunteer in Burkina Faso.