American Ambassadors Events

Ambassador Juster served more than three years as the 25th U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of India, the third largest U.S. Mission in the world. During his tenure, he tackled a broad range of issues including matters of defense, education, and space in addition to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this Roundtable, Ambassador Juster shared his perspective on the U.S.-India trade relationship, India's energy and health sectors, and more from his time at post.

Born in Bucharest, Ambassador Zuckerman emigrated to the United States with his family in 1966. He returned to Romania in 2019 to serve as Ambassador until January of 2021. He is only the second U.S. Ambassador of Romanian heritage to serve in this role and the first to have native fluency in Romanian. In this Roundtable, Ambassador Zuckerman discussed how Romania has changed through the years, how the country has coped through the pandemic and the critical role that the U.S.-Romanian relationship plays in the region.

Ambassador Brown and Ambassador Cella made transformative diplomatic accomplishments during their tenures. Ambassador Brown served as Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa from 2017 to 2020. He has a long history of public service, including as a United States Senator from Massachusetts (R, 2010–2013). Ambassador Cella served as Ambassador to Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu from 2019 to 2021. He has managed a number of successful political campaigns and served as senior adviser to the House Republican Steering Committee and the Republican Policy Committee. In this roundtable, they discussed the challenges they faced while at post - including the onset on the global pandemic - and their unique approaches to diplomacy.

Senator Bill Hagerty was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2020 and is currently serving his first term representing the state of Tennessee. Prior to that, he served as Ambassador to Japan from 2017 to 2019. Senator Hagerty has also worked as an economic advisor and as a White House Fellow under President George H. W. Bush. From 2011 to 2014, Hagerty served as commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. In this Roundtable, he discussed how he strengthened the U.S.-Japanese relationship and how he continues to use his experience abroad to inform his work in Congress.

A four star U.S. Army general, Ambassador Abizaid has a decorated history in service to the United States. Prior to his appointment as Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, he served as Commandant at the United States Military Academy at West Point and Commander of the U.S. Central Command during the Iraq War. During his time in Saudi Arabia, Ambassador Abizaid was faced with a number of profound challenges to the U.S.-Saudi relationship - including the war in Yemen and the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. In this Roundtable, he discussed how he managed these crises and built on the strengths of the U.S.-Saudi relationship.

Ambassador Christopher Landau was born into a Foreign Service family and has a lifetime of experience in the field of international affairs. During his time in Mexico, Ambassador Landau was faced with a number of challenges adding to the complexities of his role. In addition to managing migration cooperation and the response to COVID-19, he dealt with China's looming influence and the ongoing fight against the cartels. In this Roundtable, Ambassador Landau discussed his approaches to these crises, how he built on the U.S.-Mexico relationship, and the American community in Mexico.

The Council of American Ambassadors was delighted to host Ambassador Trevor Traina, recently returned from Austria. Ambassador Traina served as Ambassador to Austria from 2018 to 2021 - the same position held by his grandfather, Ambassador Wiley Buchanan, from 1975 to 1977. During his service, Ambassador Traina dealt with terrorism and the coronavirus pandemic. He discussed these and his other experiences as Amassador.

The Council of American Ambassadors was delighted to host Ambassador Lana Marks, recently returned from South Africa. Ambassador Marks is a diplomat and business executive. Born in South Africa, she returned to the country to serve as Ambassador in 2019. During her service, Ambassador Marks transformed the U.S.-South Africa relationship and tackled issues related to international development, agriculture, and COVID-19. She discussed these and her other experiences as Ambassador.

The Council of American Ambassadors was delighted to host Ambassador Arthur Culvahouse, recently returned from Australia. Ambassador Culvahouse has a long career in service to the nation, including as Counsel to President Ronald Reagan. During his time as Ambassador to Australia, Ambassador Culvahouse strengthened the key U.S.-Australian alliance and dealt with matters concerning China's influence in the Pacific. He discussed these and other experiences as Ambassador.

The Abraham Accords - Roundtable with Ambassadors Fischer and Rakolta by Council of American Ambassadors

The Council of American Ambassadors was delighted to host Ambassador Harry Harris, recently returned from South Korea. Ambassador Harris was confirmed by the United States Senate in June 2018 and served until returning in January. He previously served as Admiral of the U.S. Pacific Fleet and as the 24th Commander of the U.S. Pacific Command. During his service, Ambassador Harris was confronted by issues including North Korea, defense, and the U.S.-South Korean partnership. He discussed these along with other experiences in his role as Ambassador.

The Council of American Ambassadors was delighted to host the former Ambassador to the European Union, Gordon D. Sondland, for this exclusive event. Ambassador Sondland was confirmed by the United States Senate in June 2018 and served as Ambassador to the E.U. until February 2020. During his service, Ambassador Sondland addressed issues regarding trade, energy, national security, defense, and agriculture. He discussed these along with other experiences in his role as Ambassador to the EU.

The Council of American Ambassadors was delighted to host former Governor of Virginia and Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, James Gilmore, for this exclusive event. The OSCE is the world’s largest and most comprehensive regional security organization. It is the major forum for taking action on issues of peace, security and human rights in Europe and Central Asia. While serving as Chief of Mission, Ambassador Gilmore addressed Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine, as well as human rights violations in Belarus and the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan. He discussed how he was able to use his extensive domestic political experience to tackle these critical international issues and the importance of U.S. participation in multilateral organizations like the OSCE.

The Council of American Ambassadors hosted our first virtual Fall Conference last week. Ambassador Timothy Chorba opened the event by introducing Ambassador Frank Wisner, who provided the Council with an insightful tour d'horizon. This was followed by a panel discussion on U.S.-China relations featuring Dr. Wang Jisi of Peking University, Dr. David Lampton of Johns Hopkins, and moderator Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch. Finally, Ambassador Philip Hughes concluded the event with a warm thanks to each of our speakers.

The Council of American Ambassadors was delighted to host former Chief of Protocol, Capricia Penavic Marshall, for a discussion regarding her new book, Protocol: The Power of Diplomacy and How to Make it Work for You. Ambassador Marshall explored why diplomacy and etiquette matter - both in the global arena and in everyday life - at our event on Friday, October 16 at 4:00 p.m. EDT, moderated by Council Member Elizabeth Bagley.

The Council of American Ambassadors was delighted to host the Director of the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP), David Beirne, for an informative discussion concerning the American vote from abroad. What is the voting process like for U.S. citizens in foreign countries? What challenges do they face in submitting ballots in the middle of a pandemic? Why is FVAP housed in the Department of Defense? How can voters abroad ensure their vote is counted? Director Beirne answered these questions and more during our virtual webinar moderated by former U.S. Ambassador to Canada, Ambassador Bruce Heyman.

The role of an ambassador is to convene, to connect and to problem solve. Traditionally, that was done in meeting rooms and reception halls. In an era of social media, digital communication and Zoom meetings, ambassadors have new tools at their disposal. On Monday, June 22 the Council of American Ambassadors hosted Ambassador Mark Brzezinski, Ambassador John Emerson and Ambassador Kristie Kenney to share their stories about innovative diplomacy.

The Evolving Role of the U.S. Ambassador: A Conversation with Ambassador Ryan Crocker, Author and Journalist Paul Richter, and Ambassador Ed Gabriel Please note: From 5:15 to 20:00 there is a brief pause in the video feed of this event. The audio feed remains continuous. The video feed picks back up at 20:00.

On April 16, the Council of American Ambassadors hosted its first Virtual Roundtable with Council Members and guest speaker Dr. Arturo Valenzuela, former Assistant Secretary of State for Western Affairs. Dr. Valenzueal discussed the political unrest that erupted in Latin America in 2019, changes in leadership, and implications of the COVID-19 outbreak in the region.

November 13, 2019: At the Council of American Ambassadors' Fall Conference Ambassador William Lacy Swing reviewed international migration stats and offered analysis on migration management. Ambassador William Lacy Swing was the Director General of the International Organization for Migration and Special Representative of the Secretary General of the UN before that. CAA Member Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch introduced Ambassador Swing and moderated the ensuing Q&A session.

November 13, 2019: At the Council of American Ambassadors' Fall Conference Ambassador Frank G. Wisner discussed the state of play in the Middle East and an absence of U.S. strategy. Ambassador Wisner served as Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Under Secretary of State for International Security Affairs, and has had multiple ambassadorial appointments. CAA President Ambassador Timothy A. Chorba introduced Ambassador Wisner and moderated the ensuing Q&A session.

May 7, 2019: At the Council of American Ambassadors' Spring Conference, Contentious Neighbors, Ambassador Harry Thomas presented an overview of the current state of global affairs. Ambassador Thomas is the Senior Kissinger Fellow at the Yale Jackson Institute for Global Affairs. He served as U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe (2016-2018), the Philippines (2010-2013), and Bangladesh (2003-2005). Ambassador Thomas also served as Executive Secretary and Special Assistant to Secretary Condoleezza Rice, Director General of the Foreign Service, Director for South Asia at the National Security Council and Director of the Operations Center.

May 7, 2019: At the Council of American Ambassadors' Spring Conference, Contentious Neighbors, Dr. Aaron David Miller presented an overview of key pressure points in the Middle East and how U.S. policy should be approached in the region. Dr. Miller is a Distinguished Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center. For two decades he served in the Department of State as an analyst, negotiator, and adviser on Middle Eastern issues to Republican and Democratic Secretaries of State. Between 2003 and 2006 he served as president of Seeds of Peace, an internationally recognized program in conflict resolution and coexistence.

May 7, 2019: At the Council of American Ambassadors' Spring Conference, Contentious Neighbors, Dr. Richard Bush addressed conflict between China and Taiwan and the U.S. government's divided approach to China-Taiwan relations. Dr. Bush is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and holds the Michael H. Armacost Chair and Chen-Fu and Cecilia Yen Koo Chair in Taiwan Studies in the Center for East Asia Policy Studies.

May 7, 2019: At the Council of American Ambassadors' Spring Conference, Contentious Neighbors, Dr. Anders Aslund detailed financial corruption under President Putin and tensions in Ukraine. Dr. Aslund is a resident senior fellow in the Eurasia Center at the Atlantic Council and teaches at Georgetown University. He is a leading specialist on economic policy in Russia Ukraine and East Europe. His latest book, Russia's Crony Capitalism: The Path from Market Economy to Kleptocracy, was released on the day of the conference.

November 8, 2018: At the Council of American Ambassadors' Fall Conference, Potpourri of Diplomacy, Dr. Stephen Sestanovich spoke about Russian-American relations. Dr. Sestanovich is the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom David Professor of International Diplomacy at Columbia University SIPA. From 1997 to 2001, he was the U.S. State Department's Ambassador-at-large for the former Soviet Union. CAA Senior Vice President Ambassador G. Philip Hughes introduced Dr. Sestanovich and moderated the ensuing Q&A session.

November 8, 2018: At the Council of American Ambassadors' Fall Conference, Potpourri of Diplomacy, Mr. Amir Dossal spoke about the United Nations use of new technologies to help achieve its sustainable development goals. Mr. Dossal is the Founder and President of the Global Partnerships Forum and has 25 years of experience at the United Nations. CAA Executive Director Kathleen Sheehan introduced Mr. Dossal and moderated the ensuing Q&A session.

November 8, 2018: At the Council of American Ambassadors' Fall Conference, Potpourri of Diplomacy, Dr. Steve Sokol spoke to the state of German politics and Germany's role on the world stage. Dr. Sokol has been the President of the American Council on Germany since May 2015 and before that served as President and CEO of the World Affairs Council of Pittsburg. CAA Member Ambassador Aldona Wos introduced Dr. Sokol and moderated the ensuing Q&A session.

November 8, 2018: Dr. Nicholas Danforth spoke to U.S.-Turkey relations at the Council of American Ambassadors' Fall Conference, Potpourri of Diplomacy. Dr. Danforth is senior policy analyst for the Bipartisan Policy Center's national security program. He has written widely about Turkey, U.S. foreign policy and the Middle East for publications including The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Foreign Policy, Al Jazeera and Foreign Affairs. CAA Member Ambassador Stuart Bernstein introduced Dr. Danforth and moderated the ensuing Q&A session.

November 8, 2018: Ambassador Winston Lord spoke to U.S.-China tensions at the Council of American Ambassadors' Fall Conference, Potpourri of Diplomacy. Ambassador Lord brings significant expertise on China having served as President Reagan's Ambassador to China and President Clinton's Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs. He also served as Special Assistant to National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger and Director of the State Department Policy Planning Staff. CAA President Timothy A. Chorba introduced Ambassador Lord and moderated this session.

November 8, 2018: Ambassador Frank G. Wisner presented a "Tour D'Horizon" at the Council of American Ambassadors' Fall Conference, Potpourri of Diplomacy. He spoke to the globe's most pressing issues including religious fundamentalism and power dynamics in the Middle East. Ambassador Wisner served as Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Under Secretary of State for International Security Affairs, Ambassador to India, Ambassador to Egypt and Ambassador to Zambia. CAA President Timothy A. Chorba introduced Ambassador Wisner and moderated the ensuing Q&A session.

November 7, 2018: At the Council of American Ambassadors' Election Day Luncheon, Kati Marton spoke about Hungary and the rising threats to liberal democracy in Europe. Ms. Marton is a best-selling author, journalist and human rights activist. She is currently a director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, serves on the board of directors of the International Rescue Committee and the New America Foundation, and sits on the board of Central European University. CAA Member Ambassador Donald Bliss introduced Ms. Marton and moderated the session.

May 8, 2018: At the Council of American Ambassadors' Spring Conference, Global Tour d'Horizon, Ambassador Roger Noriega presents an overview of Latin American and addresses economic, crime and drug crises in Venezuela. Ambassador Noriega is a former Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemispheres and former ambassador to the Organization of American States. He is currently a visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. The presentation was moderated by CAA Senior Vice President, Ambassador G. Philip Hughes.

May 8, 2018: At the Council of American Ambassadors' Spring Conference, Global Tour d'Horizon, Ambassador Carla Hills discusses U.S. trade tensions with China and in the midst of NAFTA negotiations. Ambassador Hills is Chair and CEO of Hills & Compan and former United States Trade Representative. The presentation was moderated by Ambassador Richard McCormack and followed by a Q&A session.

May 8, 2018: At the Council of American Ambassador's Spring Conference, Global Tour d'Horizon, Dr. Steven A. Cook discusses Turkey's pivotal regional role and draws on the history of U.S.-Turkey relations to suggest foreign policy for the United States going forward. Dr. Cook is the Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. The presentation was moderated by Ambassador William C. Eacho and followed with a Q&A session.