Hayward “Hay” Alto, a career Foreign Service Officer, began his service as Deputy Chief of Mission in Belmopan, Belize in June 2023. Before this assignment, he was the Consular Chief at U.S. Embassy Bern where he was responsible for one of the most unique consular sections in the world, serving Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Iran through the Swiss Protecting Power relationship.
Beginning with the State Department as a Fascell Fellow in 2003, he has served at U.S. Embassies in Moscow, Rangoon, Chisinau, and Kabul. In Washington, he was Special Assistant to the Under Secretary for Management, as well as Economic Unit Chief in the Office of Russian Affairs.
Before joining the U.S. State Department, he worked in business consulting. He graduated from Brigham Young University with degrees in Russian and History. A proud native of Ukiah, California, he is married with two daughters.