About us

Ambassador Jeffrey Ross Gunter, MD (born on January 31, 1961) is an American healthcare executive, philanthropist, diplomat, and former U.S. Ambassador under President Donald Trump serving as the 24th United States Ambassador to Iceland.

Ambassador Gunter attended the University of California, Berkeley for his undergrad. He has spent time abroad in Ecuador and became fluent in Spanish where he gained an appreciation for cultural immersion. He later attended the University of Southern California for medical school. While in medical school, Ambassador Gunter studied abroad in Israel and has learned Hebrew, French, and Dutch.

After receiving his Doctor of Medicine degree and completing his residency, Ambassador Gunter was a Clinical Professor of Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. As the Chief Resident of Dermatology at the LAC/USC Medical Center, a Clinical Professor of Medicine/Dermatology, and co-author of scientific publications, Ambassador Gunter has presided over healthcare and the education of physicians and medical students.

He started his private practice in California in 1992, focusing on the needs of the rural community, as well as military personnel and their dependents, eventually expanding his practice to rural Southern and Northern Nevada beginning in 1995. Ambassador Gunter has specialized in primarily micrographic skin cancer surgery during his time in the medical field.

In 2018, President Donald J. Trump nominated Ambassador Gunter to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to Iceland. He was unanimously confirmed in 2019 and served as Ambassador from 2019-2021. During his tenure, he was involved in national security initiatives in the High North related to China and Russia.

Ambassador Gunter has taken a firm stance in peace through strength. His long list of accomplishments has helped solidify the strong relationship between the United States and Iceland.

Ambassador Gunter is the grandson of Ukrainian and Belarusian Jewish immigrants. Many of his extended family members were killed in the notorious Minsk massacres of the Holocaust. His grandmother immigrated to Canada, and later to the United States, and was one of the few members of her family who survived the Holocaust. In honor of his family’s history and legacy, Ambassador Gunter is proud to serve on the National Board of Directors for the Republican Jewish Coalition in Washington D.C., where he received the Ronald Reagan Leadership Award in 2015.

Ambassador Gunter’s father was an attorney and officer in the United States military and his mother was a second-grade elementary school teacher. Ambassador Gunter resides in Nevada with his long-time partner, Heather J. Wilson.

With over 38 years of medical experience, U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey Ross Gunter founded and directs a successful dermatology practice providing community dermatological healthcare to rural Western United States and U.S. military personnel and their families.

Since then, Ambassador Jeffrey Ross Gunter has led and supported philanthropic programs and charitable organizations serving healthcare, world affairs, military, Jewish community, and the youth community with positive significant impact.

Ambassador Jeffrey Ross Gunter is currently continuing the fight for freedom and serving the United States of America and the people.

Ambassador Jeffrey Ross Gunter’s distinguished career, spanning healthcare, diplomacy, and philanthropy, began with the establishment of a dermatology practice in 1992. His steadfast commitment to serving underrepresented communities led to the strategic expansion of his medical services into Nevada, particularly focusing on enhancing access to specialized medical care for rural and military families in the state. This move not only solidified his reputation as a healthcare provider dedicated to medical excellence but also highlighted his dedication to the well-being of Nevada’s communities.

In his diplomatic role, Ambassador Gunter’s tenure as the United States Ambassador to Iceland under President Donald Trump was marked by significant achievements in strengthening U.S.-Iceland relations. His efforts effectively countered the influence of global adversaries like Russia and China in the Arctic High North, reflecting his commitment to safeguarding American interests and security globally. Ambassador Gunter’s service was epitomized by the America First Agenda, emphasizing peace through strength and the development of robust, respectful international partnerships.

With over 38 years of experience in the medical field, Ambassador Jeffrey Ross Gunter has not only led a successful dermatology practice but also actively supported philanthropic initiatives and charitable organizations. His contributions have made a significant impact on healthcare, world affairs, military, the Jewish community, and youth development, showcasing his commitment to positive change and community service.

Transitioning from his extensive background in medicine and diplomacy, Ambassador Gunter is now pursuing a seat in the U.S. Senate to represent Nevada and provide President Trump with much-needed backup in Washington D.C. His campaign is a testament to his ongoing dedication to the America First principles, advocating for securing the southern border, reclaiming energy independence, promoting American interests in global trade, supporting law enforcement, enhancing the veteran support network, ensuring election integrity, and driving economic prosperity through sound policy. This platform underscores Ambassador Gunter’s unwavering commitment to American prosperity, security, and the well-being of Nevadans.

Successful Tenure

In 2018, President Donald Trump nominated U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey Ross Gunter to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Iceland. In 2019, U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey Ross Gunter was given this prestigious position and served under President Donald Trump as United States Ambassador to Iceland from 2019-2021. Ambassador Jeffrey Ross Gunter resigned from office in 2021, accomplishing peace and successful relationship between the two allied countries. During his successful tenure, Ambassador Jeffrey Ross Gunter accomplished a number of achievements and made a strong relationship become even stronger between the United States of America and Iceland.

1. Completed a new, $69.9 million-dollar American Embassy, an award-winning example of Nordic design that will serve as a platform for U.S.-Icelandic relations and a display of our enduring friendship and important partnership. This Embassy will be the platform from which many more diplomatic victories flow, as we continue building our U.S.-Iceland relationship.

2. Ambassador Jeffrey Ross Gunter and his Embassy team quickly identified the threats to embassy personnel at the outset of the COVID-19. Throughout the pandemic, the team ensured that there were zero community-transmitted cases of COVID by running several key initiatives in support of Embassy Reykjavik’s health and welfare during COVID-19. Embassy Reykjavik moved quickly to implement best practices to ensure the safety of every Mission employee and their families.

3. Moved all U.S. Mission personnel into the new Embassy facility, ensuring seamless operations before, during, and after the move. This was done in the midst of the COVID19 pandemic. This was accomplished through a great partnership between the U.S. Embassy Reykjavik, the Bureau of Overseas Building Operations, and the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, and other great partners – a collective victory for America and Iceland.