News Briefs https://americanambassadors.org/news/default.asp Mon, 25 May 2026 09:05:22 GMT Sat, 28 Feb 2026 22:00:00 GMT Copyright © 2026 Council of American Ambassadors Council of American Ambassadors Honors Ambassadors Sue M. Cobb & Charles E. Cobb, Jr. https://americanambassadors.org/news/news.asp?id=721417 https://americanambassadors.org/news/news.asp?id=721417 PALM BEACH, Fla. —The Council of American Ambassadors (CAA) hosted its inaugural Palm Beach Weekend on Saturday, February 28, and Sunday, March 1, convening non-career, retired U.S. Ambassadors from across Florida and the nation to celebrate the distinguished service of Ambassador Sue M. Cobb (Jamaica, 2001–2005) and Ambassador Charles E. Cobb, Jr. (Iceland, 1989–1992).

Ambassador Sue M. Cobb received the Benjamin Franklin Award for Outstanding Diplomatic Service, named for America’s first citizen ambassador. The award recognizes private citizens who answer the President’s call to serve the United States and who embody the ideals of foresight, perseverance, and excellence essential to the successful conduct of public affairs.

In addition to her CAA Board service since 2010, Ambassador Cobb has made a transformational contribution to American diplomacy by endowing the Sue M. Cobb Award, a U.S. Department of State Award for Exemplary Diplomatic Service and the only award exclusively directed for non-career Ambassadorial service. The honor recognizes the most outstanding non-career United States Ambassador selected from worldwide nominations. Through this endowment, Ambassador Cobb has ensured lasting recognition of the vital role non-career ambassadors play in advancing U.S. foreign policy.

CAA President and Ambassador (ret.) G. Philp Hughes remarked, "Ambassador Cobb’s record of service, generosity, and enduring impact on American diplomacy make her a most deserving recipient of this rare and prestigious honor."

Ambassador Sue Cobb has also served as Secretary of State of Florida, CEO of the Florida Lottery, and multi-year member and three times chair of the Miami Federal Reserve.

Ambassador Charles E. Cobb, Jr. received the Henry L. Kimelman–Milton A. Wolf Award, which honors CAA members who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and made extraordinary contributions to the Council. Ambassador Cobb’s service on the CAA Board since 1992 has been a cornerstone of the organization’s leadership for more than three decades. Cobb also currently serves on the Council’s Investment Committee, contributing financial expertise developed over a distinguished career that includes Board service with Arvida, Penn Central, Disney, Pan Am, and numerous private companies, as well as his 
success as a business leader.

President Hughes stated, "Ambassador Cobb’s generous commitment of time, expertise, and thoughtful  leadership over 34 years and counting, combined with his disciplined, long-term investment philosophy, have positioned the Council for long-term stability and success."

Ambassador Cobb served as first, Assistant Secretary, and then Under Secretary for Travel & Tourism of the U.S. Department of Commerce under President Reagan. Governor Jeb Bush appointed Ambassador Cobb to be the chairman of Gateway Florida and Florida FTAA, the organizations that were leading Florida’s efforts in Western Hemisphere trade and commerce, and he’s a past chairman of the board of trustees of the University of Miami.

Both ambassadors were recognized Saturday evening at The Beach Club in Palm Beach during a cocktail reception and awards dinner. 

###

About the Council of American Ambassadors
The Council of American Ambassadors is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization composed of former non-career U.S. Ambassadors. The Council’s mission is to strengthen America’s conduct of diplomacy and foster a collegial, supportive relationship with the U.S. Department of State.

Contact:
Hannah Followill
Communications and Program Manager
hfollowill@americanambassadors.org

]]> Sat, 28 Feb 2026 23:00:00 GMT OP-ED "Putin is invading more than Ukraine" https://americanambassadors.org/news/news.asp?id=705158 https://americanambassadors.org/news/news.asp?id=705158

Putin is invading more than Ukraine

The new battlefield is online, and the stakes are democratic sovereignty.

Anti-war street art exhibition of Ukrainian and Romanian artists in Bucharest
Never far from his KGB roots, the Russian president realizes public opinion can be manipulated and shaped by political proxies and propaganda beholden to Russia’s strongman. | Robert Ghement/EFE via EPA
Opinion
July 1, 2025 4:01 am CET
By Mark Gitenstein, Adrian Zuckerman and Jim Rosapepe

Mark Gitenstein (ret, 2009-2012), Adrian Zuckerman (ret, 2019-2021) and Jim Rosapepe (ret, 1998-2001) are all former U.S. ambassadors to Romania.

We all know Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine with tanks in 2022. But many don’t know that in 2024, he invaded Romania — with tweets.

In both cases he failed — for now. But Putin’s aggression is focused on the U.S. and all its allies. He’s spending millions of dollars, bombarding European voters with manipulative social media and disinformation campaigns on a mass scale. It’s a new type of warfare on democracy that eliminates the need to roll tanks into capitals.

 

Putin’s constantly evolving playbook is the result of his failed military campaign to capture Kyiv and strangle Ukrainian democracy. He ran into Ukraine’s indominable resilience, and as a result, he began deploying a long-standing Russian (and Soviet) strategy to destroy Western democracies from within by supporting and cultivating pro-Putin political candidates. And TikTok, Telegram and other social media channels are now weapons in this new kind of war.

Never far from his KGB roots, the Russian president realizes public opinion can be manipulated and shaped by political proxies and propaganda beholden to Russia’s strongman. One only need examine Romania’s recent election to confirm this sinister truth.

Back in 2024, Putin spent millions to elect a pro-Russian president in Romania. His method: infiltrate elections, support authoritarian-leaning candidates and manipulate digital platforms to bend public perception. So, the Russian leader boosted candidate Călin Georgescu from obscurity, and in just two weeks, Georgescu had captured 21 percent of the vote, leaving a divided field of 15 candidates stunned.

Violating common sense, reality, as well as Romanian law, Georgescu claimed he neither raised campaign contributions nor incurred campaign expenses. Instead, he had a malevolent benefactor in Putin.

The social media blitzkrieg consisted of “misinformation” and a multimillion dollar Leninist-style effort to destroy democracy in Romania. The effort’s design also included undermining U.S., NATO and EU security interests. And it was just in time that this stealth invasion of Romania’s electoral process was uncovered by Romanian and other Western intelligence services.

Citing serious violations of electoral law and foreign interference, the country’s constitutional court annulled the first round of the election and ordered a do-over. When the second round was held, voter turnout surged past the average 51 percent to nearly 65 percent, as Romanians responded to the crisis with clarity and courage. They rejected Putin’s candidate and chose the democratic, pro-NATO path by a decisive 54 percent to 46 percent margin.

 

Together with a bipartisan group of seven former U.S. ambassadors to Romania, we had publicly urged Romanians to reject Putin’s candidate. We couldn’t silently stand by and allow the patently false Russia-driven propaganda to go unchallenged. “We saw first-hand Romania’s successful climb from Russian imposed dictatorship to freedom, and integration with the rest of Europe in the EU and alliance with the U.S. through NATO,” we wrote in an open letter.

While Putin’s efforts in Romania eventually miserably failed, but real damage could have been done. | Daniel Mihailescu/AFP via Getty Images

We recognized the opportunity to accurately frame the historic choice Romanians were going to have to make at the polls, and we made the stakes clear: “Under Putin, Russia is again on the march. First invading Ukraine. Will Romania be its next target as it was Stalin’s? . . . Romanians face a clear historic choice: domination by Russia or your own future allied with America in NATO.”

While Putin’s efforts in Romania eventually miserably failed, but real damage could have been done. Fortunately, the country’s democratic institutions and voices refused to be cowed by his latest tactics. And we now encourage others to raise their voices to counter Putin’s attempts to decapitate democracy at the ballot box.

Romanians rightly took responsibility for their own future — and they chose freedom and prosperity over Putinism. After Nicusor Dan’s victory in the presidential race, U.S. President Donald Trump reassured Romanians that he would “strengthen our ties with Romania, support our military partnership, and promote and defend America’s economic and security interests abroad.”

Unfortunately, too many people who should know better are still cozying up to Putin, backing his pro-Russian candidates and undermining the security of the U.S. and other democratic allies. Elon Musk protégé Mario Nawfal was in Moscow in May, while tech billionaire Elon Musk’s father and controversial American right-wing commentators Jackson Hinkle and Alex Jones attended the Future 2050 forum in Moscow in June. Speaking at the forum were numerous Putin allies: right-wing Russian philosopher Alexander Dugin, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov and former president Dmitry Medvedev.

The Romanian battle was won, but Putin’s war on democracy continues. Who’s next on his list? This fall’s elections in Moldova, Estonia, Georgia, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and other European nations are all ripe for interference. But before his propaganda can take hold, it’s imperative to crack down on his violations of election laws.

 

The fight for democracy now extends to cyberspace, where Putin’s invasion tactics must be thwarted, just as they’ve been on the battlefield. The new battlefield is online, and the stakes are democratic sovereignty.

The lesson from Romania is clear: The best defense against propaganda is truth — and the courage to speak it.

 

]]> Thu, 3 Jul 2025 18:25:00 GMT March 2025 Council Roundup https://americanambassadors.org/news/news.asp?id=697823 https://americanambassadors.org/news/news.asp?id=697823

Council Roundup

MEMBER HIGHLIGHTS

The Council congratulates:

Ambassador Michael DeSombre  for his appointment as U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific. Read here

Other highlights include:

 

Ambassador Elizabeth Frawley Bagley  spoke with the Palm Beach Civic Association about the importance of aid programs including USAID. Read here.

Ambassador Jeff Bleich will speak to the Community Engagement Committee of Peidmont Education regarding what is behind the fall in democracy worldwide.  Read here.

 

He also joined Eleni Psaltis in a podcast for  Radio National Breakfast discussing Australia and tariffs.  Listen here.

Ambassador Ryan Crocker  spoke on peace and global relations:

  • President Trump's plan to take over Gaza.  Read here.
  • Pathways to Peace for Israel and Palestine.  Read here.
  • The world and global relations.  Listen here.

Ambassador Stuart Eizenstat spoke at Stanford University's Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies on why diplomats fail or succeed . Read here.

Ambassador Antonio Garza  presents 'A Win-Win Approach to Latin America' in the Catalyst, A Journal of Ideas from the Bush Institute . Read here.

 

He also discusses the effects of tariffs in his newsletter, 'Tariffs, Tyrants and Trump'.  Read here.

Ambassador Gordon Giffin in an interview with CPAC said he does not think the country will be hit with damaging tariffs . Read here.

Ambassador James Gilmore  was featured in NewsMax  as follows:

  • 'Retreat No Option for Defending Liberty' . Read here.
  • Discussed national security and the latest on Russia's invasion of Ukraine.  Listen here.
  • Discussed Putin not cooperating with Trump.  Listen here.

 

He was interviewed on the  Peace & Power Podcast where he discussed Ukraine.  Listen here.

 

Ambassador Gilmore was also welcomed to the Board of Directors at the Institute for the Study of War.  Read here.

Ambassador Bruce Heyman was interviewed on CNN regarding President Trump imposing tariffs on Canada . Listen here.

Ambassador Stuart Holliday hosted the Meridian International Center semi-annual "Welcome to Washington" event for newly appointed foreign ambassadors . Read here.

Ambassador/Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson wrote 'NATO Remains our Best Defense' in the  Dallas Morning News.  Read here.

 

She also spoke to the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce in preparation for NATO's Parliamentary Assembly visit to Dayton.  Read here.

 

She was one of four members of the University of Texas at Austin community recognized with the Presidential Citation Award. Read here.

Ambassador John Loeb, Jr  has 28 rarely exhibited paintings on display at the Bruce Museum in recognition of the 150th anniversary of Impressionism.  “The Art of Work: Painting Labor in Nineteenth-Century Denmark” is on view through November 30, 2025. Read here.

Ambassador Peter Pham weighed in on how President Trump can counter China in a podcast, 'China Has Been Building Influence for Years. How will Trump Respond'. Listen here.

Ambassador Jeanne Phillips was appointed as board member of Dallas Economic Development Corp.  Listen here.

Ambassador Shefali Razdan Duggal  discussed navigating the complexities of representing the interests of the United States in the midst of a global reordering at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics. Read here.

Ambassador Carla Sands  discussed the smartest thing Greenland can do as President Trump amplifies "takeover" talk. Read here.

 

She also discusses the diplomatic and strategic relations between Denmark, Greenland, and the United States with  NTD Newsroom. Listen  here.

Ambassador Gordon Sondland said nothing should be off the table when it comes to United States-Canada trade.  Read here.

Ambassador Charles Stith wrote 'Whose Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf in the White House' in  Business Day.  Read here.

Ambassador Meg Whitman shared her experiences as Ambassador to Kenya and spoke about the country's pressing issues. Listen here.

Department of State and CAA Panel on March 18, 2025

The Council was invited back to share the life “Life of an Ambassador” with the U.S. Department of State’s Spring 2025 interns.

(Left to Right) Ambassador Wos, Ambassador Hughes, and Ambassador Gabriel shared their life experiences that led to becoming an Ambassador.

We like to know what you are doing, so please send articles, interviews, or other noteworthy items to srawas@americanambassadors.org.

]]> Thu, 3 Apr 2025 20:53:00 GMT Feb 2025 Council Roundup https://americanambassadors.org/news/news.asp?id=697824 https://americanambassadors.org/news/news.asp?id=697824

Council Roundup

MEMBER HIGHLIGHTS

Ambassador Jeffrey Bleich  was published in  Persuasion regarding "The Five Steps Towards Autocracy - How Machiavelli can help us understand Trump." Read here.

Ambassador Candace Bond made history as the first diplomat to receive a national award as she left post in Trinidad and Tobago. President Christine Kangaloo presented the Hummingbird Gold Medal for Ambassador Bond’s contributions to bilateral and diplomatic relations. The Hummingbird Medal is awarded to anyone who has rendered loyal and devoted service beneficial to Trinidad and Tobago in any field of human endeavor or for gallantry or other humane action. Read here.

Ambassador Mark Brzezinski  spoke on "The U.S., Poland and the Heart of Europe" at the Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California. Watch here.

Ambassador Charles Cobb,  moderated an event at Miami University encouraging the next generation of diplomatic leaders. Read here.

Ambassador Ryan Crocker  spoke at an event in Spokane, Washington regarding the United States, Middle East and Global Leadership. Read here.

Ambassador Stuart Eizenstat  will speak at the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs to discuss his diplomatic career and his new book, The Art of Diplomacy: How American Negotiators Reached Historic Agreements that Changed the World. Read here.

Ambassador James Gilmore  offers his perspective on the war in Ukraine in the Kyiv Post.  Listen here.

Ambassador Thomas Graham and David Bernell reflect on t he "American Surrender to Putin" in The Contrarian.  Read here.

Ambassador Carla Sands  published in the Washington Times  "When it comes to Greenland, it’s up to the U.S. to Mind the Gap." Read here.

Ambassador Sands also wrote “The ‘America First’ approach to reclaiming U.S. leadership in Latin America”.  Read here.

Ambassador Peter Pham was interviewed by Atlantic Council’s Elizabeth Braw, regarding Africa’s strategic opportunities and geopolitical challenges. Listen here.

Which Spring Conference  topic interests you?

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Modern Space Race: A Defense Perspective
  • The First 100 days - The Trump White House
  • Syria and the Region: Conflict, Diplomacy, and the Battle for Stability
  • Other suggestions? You tell us!

Please send your response to: grayce@americanambassadors.org or

simply reply to this email.

We like to know what you are doing, so please send articles, interviews, or other noteworthy items to grayce@americanambassadors.org.

]]> Mon, 3 Mar 2025 20:56:00 GMT A Journey to the High North https://americanambassadors.org/news/news.asp?id=710598 https://americanambassadors.org/news/news.asp?id=710598 window.location.href = "https://www.americanambassadorslive.org/post/a-journey-to-the-high-north"; ]]> Tue, 4 Feb 2025 15:39:00 GMT Meet our New Members 2025 https://americanambassadors.org/news/news.asp?id=697827 https://americanambassadors.org/news/news.asp?id=697827

Meet our New Members!

Ambassador Michael Battle, Sr.

Post: Tanzania, 2023-2025; African Union, 2009-2013



From 1998 to 2003, he worked as the vice president of Chicago State University. He also served as a chaplain in the United States Army Reserve for 20 years. In the 1990s, Battle also worked as the vice president of the American Committee on Africa (now Africa Action). From 2003 to 2009, Battle was the seventh president of the Interdenominational Theological Center.

Ambassador Candace Bond

Post: Trinidad and Tobago, 2022-2025



Ambassador Bond is an American businesswoman who is the president and CEO of AESA Inc., a business advisory and community development consulting firm. Since 2010, she has been a principal at Beacon Rose Partners, a real estate investment firm. From 2005 to 2010, she was a managing partner at Infusion Media Partners. She was also a business development advisor at EV Structure. In 2004 she was appointed to senior partner at Impact Strategies having been vice president of Essence and general manager for entertainment from 2001 to 2003.

Ambassador Claire Cronin

Post: Ireland, 2022-2025



Ambassador Cronin previously served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 11th Plymouth district from 2013 to 2022. She was the first woman to serve as House Majority Leader. Ambassador Cronin has maintained a law practice in Brockton, MA. She was a member of the Brockton Democratic City Committee, and previously served on the Easton Democratic Town Committee and Democratic State Committee.

Ambassador Shefali Razdan Duggal

Post: Kingdom of the Netherlands, 2022-2025



Ambassador Razdan Duggal was previously appointed by President Obama to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council for a term which expired in January 2018. Ambassador Razdan Duggal served on the board of Emily's List, served as a Deputy National Finance Director of the Democratic National Committee and served on the National Finance Committee of Joe Biden for President 2020. She also joined the Leadership and Character Council at Wake Forest University (Winston-Salem, NC).

Ambassador Sean Patrick Maloney

Post: US Representative to OECD, 2023-2025


Ambassador Maloney formerly served as the U.S. representative from New York's 18th congressional district from 2013 to 2023. In March 2011 he joined the law firm Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe as a partner. He was a senior attorney at the law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher, during which time he represented the Matthew Shepard Foundation.  Ambassador Maloney became a partner in the law firm of Kirkland & Ellis LLP in 2009. From 2000 to 2003, he served as chief operating officer of Kiodex, Inc.

Ambassador Marc Nathanson

Post: Norway, 2022-2024



Ambassador Nathanson is best known for his founding of Falcon Cable, which he sold in 1999. He is a member of the Cable TV Hall of Fame, awarded with Inc.'s Entrepreneur of the Year and a former chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors.

Ambassador Carrin Patman

Post: Iceland, 2022-2025



Ambassador Patman is a partner at Bracewell LLP, where she specializes in class action litigation, commercial disputes, antitrust and competition issues, environmental violations, and regulatory compliance. She was a member of the board of Houston Metro from 2010 to 2022 and was appointed chair by Mayor Sylvester Turner in 2016.

Ambassador N. Nick Perry

Post: Jamaica, 2022-2025



Ambassador Perry is an American politician and diplomat who had served as the United States ambassador to Jamaica from 2022 to 2025. He served as a member of the New York State Assembly for the 58th district from 1993 to 2022.

Ambassador Bijan Sabet

Post: Czech Republic, 2023-2025



Ambassador Sabet co-founded Spark Capital in 2005. He worked as a senior executive in numerous technology startup companies in Silicon Valley, California, and Massachusetts. Ambassador Sabet helped lead early investments in other companies, such as Wayfair, Cruise Automotive, Oculus, Slack, Tumblr, Warby Parker, Discord, and Stack Overflow.

Ambassador Margaret (Meg) Whitman

Post: Kenya 2022-2025



Ambassador Whitman is an American business executive, diplomat, and politician. Ambassador Whitman was president and chief executive officer (CEO) of eBay from 1998 to 2008. Afterwards, she became president and CEO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise from 2011 to 2015, during the company's major split. She then served as the CEO of Quibi from its launch in 2018 until its closure in 2020.

We look forward to seeing each of you at upcoming events. Thank you for your service.


]]> Mon, 3 Feb 2025 21:00:00 GMT Jan 2025 Council Roundup https://americanambassadors.org/news/news.asp?id=697829 https://americanambassadors.org/news/news.asp?id=697829

Council Roundup

MEMBER HIGHLIGHTS

Ambassador Stuart Bernstein was recognized as a Washingtonian of the Year along with 9 other individuals who dedicate themselves to helping others and making differences in their communities.Read here.

Ambassador Charles Cobb and Ambassador Sue Cobb were individually recognized (in December) with a World Trade Center Miami (WTCM) International Hall of Fame Award.

 

This award celebrates exceptional individuals who have made transformative contributions to international trade.

Read here.(Click here to see photos:#114; #115; #125; #126; #127; #129)

Ambassador Stuart Eizenstat reflected on his longtime colleague, President Jimmy Carter, as he delivered a eulogy to President Carter at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC on Jan. 9, 2025. Watch here.

Ambassador David Fischer, former US ambassador to Morocco, in an interview for Al-Ayyam, stated that the recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara was ‘a strategic and historic decision, not a political transition’. Read here.

Ambassador Antonio Garza comments on US-Mexico relations in Turmoil and Tariffs Spell Tension in 2025.Read here.

Ambassador James Gilmore shares his bold and unvarnished views on the war in Ukraine and Russia’s aggression. Watch here.

Ambassador Thomas Graham and David Bernell reflect on the upcoming economic status of the United State in The Contrarian. Read here.

Ambassador Kenneth Howery is nominated as Ambassador to the Kingdom of Denmark by President Donald J. Trump. Read here.

Ambassador Kenneth Juster states U.S.-India ties will be strengthened, but India should expect an FTA push. Read here.

Ambassador Peter Phamspeaks on the future of U.S. military forces in Somalia in a Stars and Stripes article by John Vandiver. Read here.

We like to know what you are doing, so please send articles, interviews, or other noteworthy items to grayce@americanambassadors.org.


]]> Sat, 1 Feb 2025 21:01:00 GMT Member News - Congratulations Dec 2024 https://americanambassadors.org/news/news.asp?id=697830 https://americanambassadors.org/news/news.asp?id=697830

Member News

Congratulations to our fellow member, Ambassador Chris Landau, on being selected as Deputy Secretary of State

by President-elect Trump. We wish him a smooth and successful eventual Senate confirmation process.  To read more, click here.

Congratulations to our fellow member, Ambassador Ryan Crocker, on being awarded an honorary doctoral degree from Texas A&M. We are grateful to him for his lifetime of service in diplomacy, including six ambassadorships, the Medal of Freedom and transformative leadership at the Bush School.  To read more, click here.

We like to know what our members are doing, so please send articles, interviews, or other noteworthy items to grayce@americanambassadors.org.

]]> Thu, 19 Dec 2024 21:03:00 GMT Nov 2024 Council Roundup https://americanambassadors.org/news/news.asp?id=697831 https://americanambassadors.org/news/news.asp?id=697831

Council Roundup

MEMBER HIGHLIGHTS

Ambassador Ed Gabrielin an interview with This is Beirut explains the objective of ATFL.Watch here.

Ambassador Stuart Holliday co-authored an op-ed with Glenn Nye for USANews examining the critical role of a smooth presidential transition and maintaining international partnerships. Read here.

Ambassador Philip Hughes' commentary on the question: "What Will Trump’s Return Mean for Latin America?" is featured in the Latin America Advisor.Read Here.

Ambassador Peter Pham discusses President-elect Donald Trump's win and the impact it will have on policy towards Africa. Listen here.

 

He also wrote "Africa in the Second Trump Administration" which was published in the Jerusalem Strategic Tribune. Read here.

New Council Event:

We launched an outreach to all State Department interns with a new seminar deigned to expose them, live and in-person, to the careers and paths to public service of non-career Ambassadors, with the participation of Council members. We are grateful to Ambassador Arthur Culvahouse, Ambassador Philip Hughes, Ambassador Chris Landau, Ambassador Beatrice Welters, and Ambassador Aldona Wos for taking the time to share their experiences and time with the interns. The event was so successful and well received that the Department of State would like to continue these sessions for the intern classes next year.

Ambassador Hughes welcoming the interns and moderating the discussion.

Ambassador Wos sharing her story with the interns.

Interns connecting with Ambassador Welters at the conclusion of the event.

We like to know what you are doing, so please send articles, interviews, or other noteworthy items to grayce@americanambassadors.org.


]]> Sat, 30 Nov 2024 21:05:00 GMT Ambassador Sue M. Cobb 2024 Award Recipient https://americanambassadors.org/news/news.asp?id=697833 https://americanambassadors.org/news/news.asp?id=697833

Sue M. Cobb Award Recipient

Award for Exemplary Diplomatic Service

The Council is pleased to announce the recipient of the Department of State’s Sue M. Cobb Award for Exemplary Diplomatic Service. This award is supported by the generosity of Ambassador Sue M. Cobb, and has been endowed at the Council of American Ambassadors.

 

The Sue M. Cobb Award for Exemplary Diplomatic Service is conferred on a non-career ambassador who has made a significant impact on bilateral or multilateral relations in a manner that best reflects the Foreign Service advancing U.S. foreign policy through proactive diplomacy. Ambassador Sue M. Cobb was assisted by selection committee members Ambassador Timothy A. Chorba and Ambassador John Emerson. Other committee members included the Dean of FSI’s Leadership and Management School, the Director of FSI, the Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary for Political Affairs, and the Chief of Staff to the Under Secretary for Management.

 

The recipient of the 2024 Sue M. Cobb Award for Exemplary Diplomatic Serviceis: 

            Margaret "Meg" Whitman, Ambassador to Kenya

The Council is appreciative to Ambassador Sue M. Cobb for her generosity and continued investment in United States’ diplomatic relations.

Timothy A. Chorba

President

G. Philip Hughes

Senior Vice President


]]> Mon, 18 Nov 2024 21:10:00 GMT Annenberg Fellowship Summer 2024 https://americanambassadors.org/news/news.asp?id=681111 https://americanambassadors.org/news/news.asp?id=681111

Annenberg Fellowship Summer 2024

 

The Council of American Ambassadors (CAA) recently bid farewell to its 2024 class of Walter and Leonore Annenberg Fellows at its graduation dinner on July 24 hosted at the DACOR Bacon House.

 

The eight Fellows continued to receive excellent academic instruction and opportunities through the CAA partnership with the Institute of World Politics (IWP). This specially designed 10-week course enabled our Fellows to meet and learn from scholars and practitioners of statecraft and intelligence.

 

Through the Annenberg Fellows Alumni Association and its presidents, Donna Faye Imadi (an associate with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP and 2018 Fellow), and Luke Zaro (Deputy Chief Counsel for Oversight at the House Judiciary Committee and 2015 Fellow), we also were able to connect the eight 2024 Fellows with their predecessor fellows via peer mentorships, complementing the individual mentoring provided by CAA members. The Alumni Association held its second annual event -- a Jefferson-style dinner discussion focused on Cyber Warfare and Critical Infrastructure Attacks -- for which Mr. Tom Wingfield of RAND gave the keynote address.

 

The 2024 Walter and Leonore Annenberg Fellows are: Christine Baek (Brown University), Eugenia Hartness (University of Pennsylvania), Anya Karumanchi (Georgetown University), Will Kohn (Emory University), Libbie Larsen (Georgetown University), Celeste Lynch (Wake Forest University), Nicholas Neuman (Purdue University), and Pranav Pattatathunaduvil (Yale University).

 

CAA is grateful to the following CAA members who mentored the 2024 class of Fellows: Ambassadors Julia Chang Bloch, Timothy Chorba, Jason Chung, G. Philip Hughes, John Maisto, J. Peter Pham and Tom Siebert. We thank them for their tireless support.

First day at IWP class with IWP President, Ambassador Aldona Wos and Academic Dean Dr. Jim Robbins

Briefing with House Foreign Affairs Committee Counsel and Chief Investigator,

Mary Kabir-Seraj Bischoping

Waiting for Secretary of State Antony Blinken to arrive for a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing

Welcome Dinner, keynote address by Director-General of the Foreign Service, Marcia Bernicat

Annenberg Alumni Association dinner, keynote address by RAND Senior International/Defense Researcher, Tom Wingfield

Ambassador Dina Kawar of the Kingdom of Jordan addressed the Annenberg Fellows and IWP in an off-the-record discussion

Ambassador Aldona Wos, Ambassador Dina Kawar, and Ambassador Louise Oliver

Discussion with Ambassador Mentors and Annenberg Fellows

Ambassador Mentors, Peer Mentors (Annenberg Alumni), and Annenberg Fellows


]]> Wed, 24 Jul 2024 05:00:00 GMT 2024-2025 Davis Fellows - Welcome https://americanambassadors.org/news/news.asp?id=697832 https://americanambassadors.org/news/news.asp?id=697832

Kathryn W. Davis Fellowship Class of 2024-2025

The Council of American Ambassadors (CAA) is proud to announce its 2024-2025 Kathryn W. Davis Fellows. At the outset of the their Davis Fellowship, they complete a two-week Public Diplomacy Training program at the University of Southern California. The Fellows' ensuing year of mentorship, by CAA Ambassadors and members of our long-time partner, the Public Diplomacy Council of America, will commence with a Welcome Dinner hosted at DACOR Bacon House in September.

 

We are grateful to CAA members Ambassadors Philip Hughes and John Rakolta who participated in the selection committee.

Jack Bisase

Public Diplomacy Desk Officer

Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Islands

 

Jack Bisase is a Career Foreign Service Officer who currently serves as the Public Diplomacy Desk Officer for Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands in the Office of Press and Public Diplomacy in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs (EAP/PPD). Prior to his current assignment, Jack worked in the International Organizations Bureau (IO) coordinating with USUN Rome in advancing U.S. food security objectives in the UN through the World Food Program (WFP) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Jack has served overseas in Vientiane, Laos as Deputy Public Affairs Officer and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic as Vice Consul. 

 

Jack graduated with a M.A. in International Affairs from American University after obtaining a B.A. in International Studies from the University of North Florida. In his free time, Jack likes to write, record, and perform songs when he is not blogging about his beloved Green Bay Packers. A native of Jacksonville, FL, Jack is married with 3 children. 

William Dokurno

Public Diplomacy Officer

U.S. Embassy Bangkok

 

Will Dokurno is a Career Foreign Service Officer joining the Office of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA/PDA) as a Public Diplomacy Desk Officer for Regional and Multilateral Affairs. Will is departing the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, where he served as Assistant Cultural Affairs Officer, and previously served overseas as Vice Consul at the U.S. Consulate General in Matamoros, Mexico. Before joining the Foreign Service, he supported foreign assistance programming in Central America, including three years on contract with the U.S. Embassy in San Salvador, El Salvador.

 

Will graduated with an M.A. in International Affairs from American University after obtaining a B.A. in Political Science from Tulane University. Will is married with 3 children and enjoys cooking and studying history in his free time. He is a native of Madison, Connecticut.


]]> Wed, 5 Jun 2024 21:09:00 GMT Annenberg Fellowship Summer 2023 https://americanambassadors.org/news/news.asp?id=697834 https://americanambassadors.org/news/news.asp?id=697834

Annenberg Fellowship Summer 2023

 

The Council of American Ambassadors (CAA) recently bid farewell to its 2023 class of Walter and Leonore Annenberg Fellows at its graduation dinner on July 26 hosted at the DACOR Bacon House.

 

The seven Fellows -- all rising college seniors – were the first group of the U.S. Department of State interns to receive compensation as GS-04 employees and to be provided housing.

 

To ensure that the Fellows continued to receive excellent academic instruction, CAA partnered with the Institute of World Politics (IWP) to design a 10-week course that enabled our Fellows to meet and learn from scholars and practitioners of statecraft and intelligence.

 

Through the Annenberg Fellows Alumni Association and its presidents, Donna Faye Imadi (an associate with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP and 2018 Fellow), and Luke Zaro (Senior Counsel at the House Judiciary Committee and 2015 Fellow), we also were able to connect the seven 2023 Fellows with their predecessor fellows. The Alumni Association held its inaugural event -- a Jefferson-style dinner discussion focused on Artificial Intelligence -- for which Dr. Marc Rotenberg of the Center for A.I. and Digital Policy gave the keynote address.

 

The 2023 Walter and Leonore Annenberg Fellows are: Rosa Barrera (Yale University), Julia Buckner (Wellesley College), Claire Chang (Pomona College), Benjamin Crabb (University of South Florida), Amanda Drake (University of Minnesota - Duluth), Ava Klink (Pennsylvania State University), and Charlotte Messaris (Georgetown University).

 

CAA is appreciative to the following ambassadors who served as mentors to the 2023 Fellows: Ambassadors Julia Chang Bloch, Timothy A. Chorba, Laurie Fulton, Philip Hughes, John Maisto, and Tom Siebert. We thank them for their tireless support and guidance. 

First day at IWP class

Professor Lenczowski and Dean Robbins of IWP with the Annenberg Fellows

Welcome Dinner, keynote by Director-General of the

Foreign Service Marcia Bernicat

Discussion with Ambassador Mentors and Annenberg Fellows

Ambassador Mentors, Peer Mentors (Annenberg Alumni), and Annenberg Fellows

Mentor, Ambassador Hughes, and Fellow, Amanda Drake, who caught a foul ball at the Nationals - Rangers game.

President of Center for AI and Digital Policy Marc Rottenberg addresses the Annenberg Alumni Association during the Jefferson Dinner.


]]> Tue, 29 Aug 2023 21:15:00 GMT The Council of American Ambassadors graduates its 16th Class of International Affairs Summer Fellows https://americanambassadors.org/news/news.asp?id=677991 https://americanambassadors.org/news/news.asp?id=677991 2019 International Affairs Fellows from right to left: Seriana Williams, Thomas Naatz, Jasmine McClam, Jacob Libby, Elisabeth Miller, Benjamin Press, Gwyneth Hochhausler, Kendall Gardner, Mashad Badii. 
 
On Thursday, July 25, the Council of American Ambassadors celebrated our Class of 2019 International Affairs Fellows at a graduation luncheon held at DACOR Bacon House. Students completed their Summer Fellowships by taking academic courses in foreign policy and economics at George Mason University; serving as interns at the State Department in various bureaus including Conflict and Stabilization Operations, Near Eastern Affairs, and Democracy, Human Rights and Labor; and receiving mentoring from Council Members and Alumni Fellows. We would like to thank co-chairs Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch and Ambassador Abelardo Valdez as well as Ambassadors Dwight Bush, Mark Brzezinski, Timothy Chorba, Laurie Fulton, G. Philip Hughes, John Maisto and Thomas Siebert for devoting time this Summer to mentoring our 2019 Fellows.

 

]]> Thu, 25 Jul 2019 05:00:00 GMT 2019-2020 Kathryn W. Davis Public Diplomacy Fellows https://americanambassadors.org/news/news.asp?id=677992 https://americanambassadors.org/news/news.asp?id=677992 The Council welcomes Kahina Robinson and Mike Pryor as they begin their Public Diplomacy Fellowship.
 
The Council of American Ambassadors is delighted to announce Kahina Robinson and Mike Pryor have officially started the 2019-2020 Kathryn W. Davis Public Diplomacy Fellowship program this week. The Public Diplomacy Fellowship combines on-the-job training with academic study and mentoring by former United States Ambassadors, public diplomacy/ public affairs officers and media/communications executives. Its purpose is to enhance the conduct and practice of U.S. public diplomacy through the provision of specialized training and mentoring opportunities for junior Public Diplomacy officers.

Kahina is a staff assistant at the State Department's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs. From 2016-2018, she worked as a Watch Officer/Senior Watch Officer in the Operations Center – the State Department’s 24/7 communications and crisis management center.  Previously, she served as the Cultural Affairs Officer at U.S. Embassy Niamey, Niger, and as a Consular Officer in Brasilia, Brazil. Prior to joining the Foreign Service in 2011, she worked in the Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Network at the World Bank. Kahina holds a BA in anthropology from Yale, an MA in international affairs from Columbia University, and studied at Fundação Gétulio Vargas Escola de Administração de Empresas São Paulo.  Kahina is originally from Washington, D.C., and speaks Portuguese and French.
 
Mike is the Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Lome, Togo, where he designs and implements country-wide public diplomacy strategies to advance U.S. foreign policy goals. Mike received a Meritorious Honor Award in 2018 for his efforts to use public diplomacy to promote reconciliation and healing in the violence-scarred city of Sokode, and was also nominated for the Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Public Diplomacy. He previously served as the American Citizen Services Chief in Nairobi, Kenya, and the Deputy Public Affairs Officer in Vientiane, Laos. Prior to joining the Foreign Service, Mike spent six years as a public Affairs specialist in the U.S. Army.  He deployed three times to Iraq and Afghanistan as a military reporter, and in 2008 he received the Paul Savanuck Award, the Army’s highest award for journalistic excellence. From 2000 to 2001 Mike was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Zambia. He has a bachelor’s degree in history from Boston College.

]]> Sun, 21 Jul 2019 05:00:00 GMT 2019 International Affairs Students Selected https://americanambassadors.org/news/news.asp?id=677994 https://americanambassadors.org/news/news.asp?id=677994 Congratulations to the 2019 International Affairs Fellows!

The Council of American Ambassadors is delighted to announce the selections for the 2019 Annenberg Fellowship and the 2019 CAA Fellowship. Congratulations Fellows!
 
International Affairs Fellows
Mashad Badii, University of California, Berkeley
Kendall Gardner, Tulane University
Gwyneth Hochhausler, London School of Economics and Political Science
Jacob Libby, University of Virginia
Elisabeth Miller, Lewis and Clark College
Thomas Naatz, University of Notre Dame
Benjamin Press, Princeton University
Seriana Williams, University of Nebraska at Lincoln
 
About the CAA Fellowship
 
The CAA Fellowship program is designed to foster the development of the next generation of American diplomats. Of the CAA Fellows selected each year, six are named Ambassadors Walter and Leonore Annenberg Fellows. Since 2004, the annual fellowship program has offered rising seniors selected from among the Department of State’s summer internship class the opportunity to receive mentoring from former United States ambassadors, to enroll in advanced coursework in foreign affairs and economics, and to attend various Council panels and events. These Fellows are “some of the most outstanding young leaders in the United States and have great potential to make important contributions to our country,” stated Ambassador Abelardo L. Valdez, CAA President Emeritus and Fellowship Program Founder.

About the Council of American Ambassadors
 
The Council of American Ambassadors is the association of non-career United States ambassadors. A nonprofit and nonpartisan organization, the Council aims to enhance America’s conduct of diplomacy. The organization sponsors fellowships to develop young leaders for careers in public diplomacy and international affairs and conducts semiannual conferences. The Council also convenes roundtable member discussions and “Taste of Diplomacy” luncheons with Ambassadors to the United States, organizes overseas fact-finding missions, publishes a bi-annual journal, The Ambassadors REVIEW, administers Ambassadors Perspectives, an online forum for commentary, and hosts the podcast series, CAA Live! The Council maintains a website at www.americanambassadors.org, LinkedIn and Facebook pages and a Twitter account (@AmerAmbassadors).

 

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