Ambassador to the Republic of South Africa by President George W. Bush on July 20, 2006, after being confirmed by the U.S. Senate on June 29.

Bost presented his credentials to South African President Thabo Mbeki on August 15, 2006.

[1] Bost previously served as Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services (FNCS) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture from 2001 to 2006 under Ann Veneman.

Before his appointment to that position, Bost served as Commissioner and chief executive officer of the Texas Department of Human Services (DHS) for four years.

During his tenure at the Department of Agriculture, Bost led an expanded U.S. initiative to promote improved nutrition and food security in South Africa, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Hong Kong, Brazil, Tanzania, Swaziland, Mozambique, Uganda, Madagascar, Chile, United Kingdom, Argentina, Mexico, Israel, Italy, China and Japan.