U.S. Ambassador to Singapore
In 2009, Adelman was nominated to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Singapore. He was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2010 and held the post until late 2013. As Ambassador, Adelman was recognized for his effectiveness in promoting trade and investment, both from U.S. companies to Asia and Asia-based companies to the United States. He led eight U.S. trade missions to India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar (formerly Burma) and Vietnam. His 2012 trade mission to Naypyidaw, the capital of Myanmar, was the first by an American business delegation and helped bolster the fledgling democratically elected government. He resigned from service as U.S. Ambassador to Singapore in 2013. That year he was named Managing Director by Goldman Sachs based in Hong Kong where he had responsibilities throughout the Asia-Pacific region. He is a former partner of law firm Reed Smith where his practice focused on commercial transactions in Asia. In 2009, As ambassador, Adelman was praised for strengthening cultural and commercial ties between Singapore (and its neighbors in Southeast Asia) and the United States. During his tenure, he led eight regional trade missions including missions to Burma (Myanmar), India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam. Also during his tenure, U.S. direct foreign investment in Singapore totaled $116 billion, an all-time high.
In 2011, under Adelman's leadership the U.S. Embassy in Singapore received the global award for promoting the National Export Initiative. Adelman successfully worked to make Singapore a party to the Hague Convention on International Child Abductions and the countries signed the U.S.–Singapore Preventing and Combating Serious Crime Agreement. Additionally, the two countries entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on education issues. During Adelman's tenure as U.S. Ambassador, the number of Singapore students studying in American universities reached an all-time high and more American researchers, students and artists worked in Singapore than at any other time in history.
A longtime champion of America's National Export Initiative, Adelman aggressively promoted American exports to Asia, leading missions to India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and Vietnam made up of America's leading businesses. Adelman oversaw a 20% increase in U.S. direct foreign investment in Singapore reaching more than $116 billion in cumulative investment in 2011.
In 2011 Adelman was recognized in The Wall Street Journal for his "heroic lobbying" in support of the APEC Business Travel Card, which would give American business travelers expedited visa processing rights at foreign embassies and access to immigration processing at international airports.
In 2012, Adelman led the first American business mission in history to Naypyidaw, the capital city of Myanmar. Later that year he was recognized with the Gold Standard Award for Diplomatic Engagement for his work promoting American exports. In 2013, he initiated the U.S. Embassy Singapore Alumni Mentoring Program. The program aims to strengthen bilateral ties and empowers the next generation of Singaporean leaders by leveraging a global network of accomplished alumni as role models.
In August 2012, the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of State specifically recognized his leadership of the embassy in Singapore, citing American policy makers calling his regional approach to trade promotion "extremely innovative". The Inspector General praised Adelman for his efforts to promote investment from Asia into the United States and the establishment of the U.S.–Singapore Strategic Partnership Dialogue. The report notes that "[a]gency heads with regional perspectives told inspectors they considered the Ambassador one of the most effective and dynamic embassy executives in the field." The report further stated that "American staff gave the Ambassador very good marks in leadership and management capabilities, reporting that vision, coordination and problem solving are his greatest strengths." The report also describes Adelman's outreach to the local business community and institutions as "thoughtfully designed and well executed".
Adelman's managerial techniques were also singled out, noting that even employees who spend much of their time outside Singapore demonstrated a firm grasp of the objectives and expectations of the ambassador and embassy's team. In 2013, Adelman was awarded the U.S. State Department Superior Honor award for his diplomatic leadership.
As Ambassador, Adelman successfully negotiated the terms under which Singapore agreed for the first time to allow forward deployment to Changi Naval Base of US Navy ships. The USS Freedom (LCS-1) arrived in Singapore on April 18, 2013. For this achievement, Adelman received the United States Navy Distinguished Public Service Award, the highest award granted by the US Navy to non-military personnel.
In 2013, Adelman resigned his position and returned to the private sector joining the firm Goldman Sachs as managing director leading a team in the executive office of the firm in Hong Kong, and later becoming a partner in the law firm Reed Smith LLP. working in the firm's New York office and regularly traveling to the firm's offices in Asia. Currently, he serves as Managing Director and general counsel for KraneShares based in New York.
