Joseph J. Sisco

Dr. Joseph Sisco served as chairman of the American Academy of Diplomacy for nearly ten years. He was a senior partner with Sisco Associates, an international consulting firm specializing in political and economic risk analysis and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. From 1976 to 1981 he served as president of The American University in Washington, DC. Prior to his presidency of American University, Dr. Sisco held a series of senior foreign policy positions in the Ford, Nixon, Johnson and Kennedy Administrations. His positions include Under Secretary for Political Affairs from 1974 to 1976, Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs from 1964 to 1968 and Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs and Director of UN Political Affairs.

Dr. Sisco served as the US Representative to the UN Security Council in 1967 and US Representative to Fifth Special Session of the General Assembly on the Middle East and Political Advisor to US Delegations to the UN General Assembly.

Dr. Sisco started his career in foreign affairs with the Central Intelligence Agency in 1950 and transferred to the Department of State in 1951. He is a recipient of the Department of State's Superior Service Award, the National Civil Service League Outstanding Career Officers in Government Service Award, the Rockefeller Public Service Award and the AMVETS Peace Award for Middle East Negotiations.

Dr. Sisco is a director with Newport News Shipbuilding Inc, and Braun AG. He is a former director of First National Bank of Washington, GEICO, Gillette, Tenneco, Raytheon, The Inter - Publics Group of Companies and Government Systems Inc.

Dr. Sisco received a BA, magna cum laude from Knox College and has a MA and a Ph.D in International Relations from the University of Chicago with a specialization in Soviet Affairs. He passed away on November 22, 2004, and is survived by his two daughters, Jane and Carol Sisco.