The American Academy of Diplomacy is a private,
nonprofit,
non-partisan, elected organization whose active membership is limited to men and women who have held positions of high responsibility in crafting and implementing American foreign policy. They have served the United States as chiefs of mission in major embassies abroad, and/or equivalent high-level foreign policy positions in Washington.
Founded in 1983, the Academy focuses the expertise of its members on the pursuit of excellence in the practice of American diplomacy.
In its early years, the Academy provided the
United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations with commentary on the qualifications of those nominated by the
President as
ambassadors, but today it only does so in exceptional circumstances, such as if the Board of Directors feels strongly about a nominee's lack of qualifications to be ambassador.[3]
The academy is financially supported by its members, and by grants from foundations and corporate contributors.
The Academy hosts an annual awards luncheon at the
Department of State to recognize an individual or group who has made exemplary contributions to the field of American diplomacy.
The Arthur Ross Award for Distinguished Reporting and Analysis of Foreign Affairs[6]
Since 2004, the Academy has presented the Arthur Ross Award to journalists who have produced the most compelling and insightful pieces concerning American diplomatic efforts.
The Douglas Dillon Award for Distinguished Writing on American Diplomacy[7]
Since 1995, the Academy has awarded an annual prize for a book of distinction on the practice of American diplomacy. This award honors those who broaden public understanding of the need for excellence in American diplomacy.
Programs
Present
FSOT Career Track Virtual Series
Michigan Ambassadors Forum
Texas Tech Ambassadors Forum
Nebraska Ambassadors Forum
Arthur Ross Discussions of American Diplomacy
Joseph J. Sisco Memorial Forum
Ambassador Speaker Series
Past
America's Diplomats screening and discussion
Hushang Ansary Forums: Global Strategies for a Global America
Diplomacy and Democracy
Diplomatic Professional Education and Training Project
Integrating Instruments of Power and Influence
Publications
Bringing America's Multilateral Diplomacy into the 21st Century (2022)[8]
Changing the Risk Paradigm for U.S. Diplomats (2021)[9]
The Academy, in collaboration with
Johns Hopkins University's
Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), awarded the Philip Merrill Fellowship for a winning essay on the practice of American diplomacy. The fellowship provided one half of SAIS tuition for each of two years of study. The last year for this award was 2013.
The Leonard Marks Foundation Award for Creative Writing on American Foreign Policy
Participants in this contest submitted essays on specific challenges to American diplomacy, and proposed policy recommendations to address them. The Academy selected three winners at differing award levels. The last year for this award was 2009.
References
^"
American Academy of Diplomacy". District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs. Retrieved July 14, 2022.