Speaker Bios

Ambassador Edward F. Crawford

President Donald J. Trump nominated Edward F. Crawford to be United States Ambassador to Ireland on October 23, 2018.  The United States Senate confirmed Ambassador-designate Crawford by 90-4 in favor on June 13, 2019.  He was sworn in by Vice President Mike Pence on June 26, 2019, and presented his credentials to Irish President Michael D. Higgins on July 1, 2019.

Prior to his appointment, Ambassador Crawford was Chairman and CEO of The Edward Crawford Group, Inc. in Cleveland, Ohio, since 1985 and Chairman and CEO of Park-Ohio Industries, Inc. in Cleveland from 1992 until May of 2018.  He previously held positions as President of Crawford Container Company in Conneaut, Ohio; Vice President Operations of Clarke Can Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and President and CEO of Cleveland Steel Container in Cleveland, Ohio.  Appointed by President George W. Bush, he served as a member of the USO World Board of Governors from 2007-2010.

Ambassador Crawford has been honored for his entrepreneurial and business achievements, including with the Northeast Ohio Business Hall of Fame Entrepreneurial Award, the Small Business News Master Innovator Award, Ernst & Young Northeast Ohio Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and the Small Business Administration Man of the Year-Ohio Award.  He also has been recognized by several organizations for his philanthropy work and community service, including the Ronald McDonald House, the Mayo Society, Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, and Our Lady of the Wayside, among others.

Ambassador Crawford attended John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio, and served in the Specialist Aviation Company, 107th Armored Cavalry, Army National Guard.  He has strong Irish roots, with both his parents emigrating in the 1920’s from Ireland to the United States.  He and his wife Mary have one son, Matthew, who is married to Deborah, and three grandchildren, Colin, Catherine and Claire

Further Information can be found at https://ie.usembassy.gov/our-relationship/our-ambassador/

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