Ronald E. Neumann
President, American Academy of Diplomacy
Formerly a Deputy Assistant Secretary Ronald E. Neumann served three times as Ambassador; to Algeria, Bahrain and finally to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan from July 2005 to April 2007. Before Afghanistan, Mr. Neumann, a career member of the Senior ForeignService, served in Baghdad from February 2004 with the Coalition Provisional Authority and then as Embassy Baghdad’s principal interlocutor with the Multinational Command, where he was deeply involved in coordinating the political part of military action.
Prior to working in Iraq, he was Chief of Mission in Manama, Bahrain (2001-2004). Before that, Ambassador Neumann served as a Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Near East Affairs (1997-2000), where he directed the organization of the first separately-funded NEA democracy programs and also was responsible for the bureau’s work in developing the North African Economic Initiative for Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria. Before that assignment, he was Ambassador to Algeria (1994 to 1997) and Director of the Office of Northern Gulf Affairs (Iran and Iraq; 1991 to 1994). Earlier in his career, he was Deputy Chief of Mission in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and in Sanaa in Yemen, Principal Officer in Tabriz, Iran and Economic/Commercial Officer in Dakar, Senegal. His previous Washington assignments include service as Jordan Desk officer, Staff Assistant in the Middle East (NEA) Bureau, and Political Officer in the Office of Southern European Affairs.
Ambassador Neumann is the author of The Other War: Winning and Losing in Afghanistan (Potomac Press, 2009), a book on his time in Afghanistan. He is the author of a number of monographs and articles. At the Academy he has focused particularly on efforts to expand State and USAID personnel to enable these institutions to carry out their responsibilities.
Ambassador Neumann speaks some Arabic and Dari as well as French. He received State Department Senior Foreign Service pay awards in 2004, 2003, and 1999 as well as individual Superior Honor Awards in 1993 and 1990. He served as an Army infantry officer in Viet Nam and holds a Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal and Combat Infantry Badge. In Baghdad, he was awarded the Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal. He earned a B.A. in history and an M.A. in political science from the University of California at Riverside. He is married to the former M. Elaine Grimm. They have two children.
Elizabeth Russell
Managing Director
Liz Russell is the Program Director at the American Academy of Diplomacy (AAD), where she works collaboratively with Ambassador Ronald E. Neumann (ret.), President of AAD, to manage internal operations and expand targeted public programming and outreach activities. Liz was named to the inaugural list of the Diplomatic Courier’s “Top 99 Under 33 Foreign Policy Leaders,” a special feature that captures the extraordinary and diverse impact that 99 Millennials under the age of 33 have on international affairs.
Liz Russell previously served as the Deputy Director of Policy at the Coalition for Government Procurement. In that position, she was the primary staff liaison for assigned committees and was responsible for researching, drafting and developing association positions and policy statements on matters that pertain to those committees. Liz Russell represented the association in meetings before Congress and regulatory agencies as needed, and assisted the Director of Policy with other policy research. Prior to her time at the Coalition, she worked at the New Zealand Embassy’s Trade and Enterprise Office where she assisted with U.S. procurement market research. Before coming to DC, Liz Russell worked on elections and legislative research at a public affairs and political consulting firm in Sacramento, CA.
Liz Russell has been on volunteer staff with Young Professionals in Foreign Policy (YPFP), an organization dedicated to fostering the next generation of foreign policy leaders, for four years and is currently serving as the Director of the Counselors Program.
She received her B.A from the University of California, Davis with majors in international relations and political science and a minor in communications.
Lenore Flower
Finance/Operations Assistant
Lenore Flower is the Finance/Operations Assistant at the American Academy of Diplomacy (AAD), where she provides web, accounting, and administrative support. When not at the Academy, Lenore works as the Program Assistant at the Una Chapman Cox Foundation. She also serves as the volunteer Director of Fund Development for the Global Language Network and the Associate Director of Financial Operations for Young Professionals in Foreign Policy (YPFP).
Lenore studied Chinese culture and language at Bucknell University, and received the Bucknell Prize in East Asian Studies upon graduation in 2010. Previous work and internship experience includes: The American Association of University Women, Bucknell Women's Resource Center, Machik, The Bucknellian Student Newspaper, and Caijing Financial magazine.
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