Charles Arthur Ford is an American former United States Department of Commerce official and diplomat who served as the director general of the United States Commercial Service from 2010 to 2013 and U.S.

[2] As a member of the United States Foreign Commercial Service since 1982, Ford has had an extensive experience in Europe and Latin America.

[3] From 1990 to 1994, he served as the deputy assistant secretary for International Operations of the USFCS[clarification needed] and as director of Latin American Trade Policy in the International Trade Administration.

[4] Ford received the President's Award for Distinguished Service in 2008 and the Joint Distinguished Civilian Service Award from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Department of Defense in 2009.

He earned the Silver Medal for expansion of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service network into the former Soviet Union, the Department of Commerce Gold Medal for Distinguished Achievement in Federal Service, and the Department of Commerce/International Trade Administration Bronze Medal for outstanding achievement at the United States Mission to the European Union.