Amb. John R. Malott's professional career in the U.S. Foreign Service and as a non-profit leader has focused on Asia, and in particular, Japan. During his 31-years in the U.S. Department of State, he served as U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia; Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs; U.S. Consul General in Osaka, economic officer at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, and U.S. Consul in Kobe, Japan; Deputy U.S. Consul General in Mumbai, India; Deputy Director and later Director of the Office of Japanese Affairs in Washington; and civilian advisor to the U.S. Army in the Mekong Delta during the Vietnam War.

After retirement from the State Department, Amb. Malott served for 12 years as President of the Japan-America Society of Washington D.C. In 2017 the Emperor of Japan awarded him the Order of the Rising Sun with Gold Rays and Neck Ribbon for his lifelong contribution to U.S.-Japan relations.

Currently, Amb. Malott serves as an advisor to the Japan-America Society, the National Cherry Blossom Festival of Washington, D.C., and to groups promoting Japanese language education to new generations of Americans. He is a graduate of Northwestern University and the National War College.