Languages: English, Spanish and Portuguese
Background & Experience
Ambassador James “Jimmy” Story is a retired U.S. diplomat and career Senior Foreign Service Officer who served with distinction across five presidential administrations and seven Secretaries of State. Over a 27-year career, he held senior diplomatic roles throughout the Western Hemisphere, including as U.S. Ambassador to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (2018–2023), Consul General in Rio de Janeiro, and Director of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) for the Western Hemisphere.
In June 2024, Ambassador Story was nominated to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Mozambique. While awaiting confirmation, he served as Acting Chief of Mission in Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe, where he led the largest U.S. infrastructure investment in sub-Saharan Africa to date. He has also served as Acting Charge d’Affaires in Eswatini and to the Dutch Caribbean from Curaçao. Ambassador Story’s earlier assignments include diplomatic postings in Bogotá, Afghanistan, São Paulo, Brasília, Guadalajara, Maputo, and the U.S. Mission to the United Nations.
His career has focused on democracy promotion, counternarcotics, environmental policy, energy diplomacy, and complex interagency coordination. He has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Warren Christopher Award for Outstanding Achievement in Global Affairs, the Distinguished Honor Award, the Presidential Rank Award, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence Exceptional Service Award, and the Superior Civilian Service award from the US Army .
Ambassador Story was introduced to Project Beisbol while working in Rio and Bogota and supported the organization through his diplomatic and commercial networks. He joined the Board of Directors in 2025, bringing with him a wealth of international experience and a lifelong commitment to youth empowerment, democracy, and cross-cultural engagement. Originally from Moncks Corner, South Carolina, Ambassador Story earned a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of South Carolina and an M.Sc. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University. He is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese. He resides in Washington, D.C., with his wife Susan West Story and their son, James McKelvey “Mac” Story.