May was born in
Texas. He is a graduate of the
University of Texas at Austin and received a master’s degree in China Studies from
Johns Hopkins University at the School of Advanced International Studies. Before entering the
United States Foreign Service, May worked as a journalist for
International Community Radio Taipei,
Taiwan's only
English-language radio station, from 1993 to 1996. He was also the Assistant Director and Research Associate in Chinese Studies at the
Nixon Center, a foreign policy think tank in
Washington, D.C., and a correspondent for
Newsweek. May entered the
Department of State in 2000, which he had served as Special Assistant to the
Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs and had held various positions that were focused on China, Vietnam, and the Executive Secretariate of the Department of State. His overseas service includes serving as Second Secretary at the
U.S. Embassy in Beijing, and later in the U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou and the
U.S. Embassy in Rome. In August 2016, May was appointed the Consul General of the
Consulate General of the United States of America to Shenyang. In August 2019, May was appointed to be the Deputy Chief of Mission at the
U.S. Embassy in Ulaanbaatar. In September 2022, May was appointed as the Consul General of the United States of America to Hong Kong and Macau, following a 2 month vacancy of the post. A banquet was held for May's arrival, which was attended by officials from the
Hong Kong government and leaders in the business sector. In July 2025, he was appointed Deputy Chief of Mission at the
U.S. Embassy in Beijing. == Personal life ==