Joseph J. Sisco was the Chairman of the American Academy of Diplomacy from 1999-2004. When he passed away in the fall of 2004, he requested that gifts in his honor be made to the Academy of Diplomacy. The Academy decided that the best use of the generous donations made by his friends and family was to stimulate public discussion on the foreign policy themes to which Dr. Sisco dedicated his career. Therefore, the Academy created the Sisco Memorial Forum, what will be a periodic series of events dedicated to discussion of pertinent themes in US Foreign Policy.

As Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs, and as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Dr. Sisco often played a leading role in American involvement in the work of the United Nations. The first Forum event continued that effort by generating awareness of and discussion on the problems that the United Nations faces today. It was held on June 30, 2005 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.

Building upon the success of the first generous Sisco challenge grant made by Carol and Jane Sisco to the Academy in 2005, the Sisco family has again expressed their commitment to support diplomatic outreach events in honor of the late Joseph J. Sisco. Carol and Jane Sisco have announced that they will offer a $25,000 challenge grant in 2007, to be matched by Academy members to help finance a continuing series of diplomatic outreach activities.

> Read the 2007 Sisco Challenge Letter to Members

Events and Transcripts
>The Joseph J. Sisco Memorial Forum on Diplomacy in Iraq, November 4, 2009
>Keynote Address: Lessons from Peacekeeping, William Lacy Swing at the Joseph J. Sisco Memorial Forum on United Nations Peacekeeping, November 7, 2007
> The Joseph J. Sisco Memorial Forum on United Nations Reform, June 30, 2005