all Americans missing in action, including rescuing all Americans endangered by combat operations. Ambassador to Zimbabwe President Barack Obama nominated Ray as U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe on August 5, 2009. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate and sworn into office on October 20, 2009. He arrived at his post in Harare in November, 2009. His assignment in Harare ended in August 2012. He returned to the United States, and on September 1, 2012, retired from public service. Author In June 2008, Ray's first book, Things I Learned From My Grandmother About Leadership and Life, was published. His second book, Taking Charge: Effective Leadership for the Twenty-First Century, was published in March 2009. He has authored more than 100 works of fiction and nonfiction, most of which can be seen at h is web site, http://charlesray-author.com/. In addition to his independently published books, he writes westerns for Outlaws Publishing, LLC, Rusty Spurs Publishing, and Dusty Saddle Publishing, including a series of books on the life of Bass Reeves, one of the first African-American deputy U.S. marshals west of the Mississippi River. A complete list of his books can be seen at his Amazon Author Page, https://www.amazon.com/Charles-ray/e/B006WMLEZK. Personal Ray is married and has four children. References External links Official Blog of Ambassador Charles A. Ray United States Department of State: Official Biography of Charles A. Ray United States Embassy Harare, Zimbabwe 1945 births Living people People from Center, Texas Ambassadors of the United States to Cambodia Ambassadors of the United States to Zimbabwe African-American diplomats United States Army officers United States Foreign Service personnel Foreign Policy Research Institute United States Army personnel of the Vietnam War 20th-century African-American people 21st-century African-American people 21st-century American diplomats Military personnel from Texas