Leslie Reed assumed leadership of USAID Ethiopia in August of 2016. USAID Ethiopia is one of the largest USAID missions in Africa and is a focus country for presidential initiatives covering HIV and AIDS, malaria, child survival, agricultural growth, food security and nutrition, climate change and energy. The mission’s portfolio also has a robust basic education program and activities that promote good governance and prevent conflicts. The mission supports regional initiatives with African Union whose seat is located in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa.

Prior to this, Reed was the mission director in Uganda for four years. Reed has also served as the deputy regional mission director for USAID's Southern African mission, as USAID’s assistant general counsel for Africa in Washington D.C., and as a Foreign Service regional legal advisor in Lima, Peru and Accra, Ghana.

Before joining USAID, Reed was a senior project finance officer and assistant general counsel for the Export-Import Bank of the United States and an associate with the law firm of Morrison & Foerster in Los Angeles.

Reed is a graduate of UCLA School of Law and the University of California, San Diego, The Third College.