Kelly Dawn Knight Craft (born February 24, 1962) is an American businessperson and diplomat who served as the 30th United States Ambassador to the United Nations from September 2019 to January 2021. Prior to that post she was the U.S. Ambassador to Canada from 2017 to 2019, the first woman to hold that position. Her career spans private-sector advisory work, university governance, political activity within the Republican Party, and several diplomatic appointments.

Early life, business career, and civic roles

Craft built a profile in business and philanthropy in Lexington, Kentucky. She is the principal of Kelly G. Knight LLC, a business advisory firm based in Lexington, Kentucky, and has been active in local civic and cultural organizations. Craft has served on the University of Kentucky's board of directors, participating in higher-education governance and fundraising efforts. Her private-sector experience and local prominence contributed to her visibility for later federal appointments and political activity. Kelly G. Knight LLC and her board membership at the university are often cited in biographical summaries. University of Kentucky

Diplomatic and political appointments

In 2007 President George W. Bush appointed Craft as a U.S. delegate to the United Nations, where her portfolio included attention to U.S. programs and engagement in Africa. She remained active in Republican politics and was a delegate to the 2016 Republican National Convention representing Kentucky. In June 2017 President Donald Trump nominated Craft to be U.S. Ambassador to Canada; she served in Ottawa and was the first woman to occupy that role. Appointment, 2007 United Nations delegate 2016 convention Nomination to Canada

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations

President Trump nominated Craft to be U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations on February 22, 2019. The Senate confirmed her nomination on July 31, 2019, by a 56–34 vote. As U.S. envoy to the UN she represented American positions on a range of issues, including security, humanitarian assistance, and multilateral diplomacy, through the end of the Trump administration in January 2021. Observers noted her prior experience at the U.N. and in bilateral diplomacy as background for the role.

Public positions and controversies

Throughout her public career Craft has taken positions and made comments that attracted attention. Early in her tenure as ambassador to Canada she made remarks that were interpreted as questioning the extent of human contribution to climate change; those comments received media coverage and public discussion. Her political activity, fundraising, and ties to business interests have also been part of public accounts of her career.

Personal life and notable facts

Kelly Craft is married to Joe Craft, a businessman in the coal industry; earlier marriages ended in divorce. She is often described as a prominent fundraiser and donor within Republican circles and as a civic leader in Kentucky. Notable aspects of her biography include being the first woman to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Canada and her confirmation vote margin for the U.N. post. For further reading on specific appointments and public statements, refer to primary sources and official records. Appointment record UN service business profile

  • Born: February 24, 1962.
  • U.S. delegate to the United Nations: appointed 2007.
  • U.S. Ambassador to Canada: nominated June 2017; first woman in the post.
  • U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations: nominated February 2019, confirmed July 31, 2019 (56–34), served Sept 2019–Jan 2021.
  • Civic roles: University of Kentucky board member; heads a Lexington-based advisory firm.

This article summarizes broadly known facts about Craft's public career and roles. For detailed policy records, speech transcripts, and formal biographies consult official government releases and archival materials. Political activity University service