 In August 2013, it was reported by "The New York Times" that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry had recommended that Ford serve as the next U.S.Ambassador to Egypt, following the incumbent ambassador, Anne W. Patterson, being nominated to serve as the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs the head of the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs within the U.S. Department of State, which oversees the Middle East.On February 4, 2014, officials of the U.S. State Department said that Ford was retiring and on February 28 announced his departure.