“America’s Diplomats” — Cincinnati Screening

 

The Greater Cincinnati World Affairs Council hosted Ambassador Gordon Gray and screened the film 'America's Diplomats' on May 16, 2017 at Highland Country Club Fort Thomas, KY.

This event was a partnership with Cincinnati World Cinema, The World Affairs Councils of America, and The American Academy of Diplomacy. Congruent with the screening of America’s Diplomats, an engrossing documentary film, Ambassador Gordon Gray discussed the impact diplomats have had on our nation’s history, foreign policy, and economic interests, as well as the challenges faced by our diplomatic corps. Following the event, Ambassador Gordon Gray spoke with a local news station on the film. This interview is available below.

                  Gordon Gray is the Executive Vice President at the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce. He recently retired from the U.S. government after 35 years of public service. Prior to his retirement he was the Deputy Commandant at the National War College. Ambassador Gray served as the U.S. Ambassador to Tunisia from 2009 until 2012, witnessing the start of the Arab Spring and directing the U.S. response in support of Tunisia’s transition. He was Senior Advisor to the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq from 2008 until 2009, focusing on governance and infrastructure in the southern provinces. Before that, Ambassador Gray was Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs from 2005 until 2008; his responsibilities included the promotion of U.S. interests in the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa, and oversight of the bureau’s Regional Affairs office. His other foreign assignments included Egypt (where he served as Deputy Chief of Mission from 2002 until 2005), Canada, Jordan, Pakistan, and Morocco, where he began his career in government as a Peace Corps volunteer. Ambassador Gray received his B.A. from Yale and his M.A. from Columbia, as well as an honorary M.S. from the National Defense University. He is a member of the American Foreign Service Association, the Middle East Institute, the American Academy of Diplomacy, and the Board of Directors of the Tunisian-American Young Professionals Association. Ambassador Gray twice received the Presidential Meritorious Service award, as well as other awards for exceptional service. He and his wife have three adult children. In addition to spending time with his family, he enjoys distance running and has run marathons and half-marathons in Europe, North Africa, and the United States.

  [caption id="attachment_3003" align="aligncenter" width="522"] Ambassador Gordon Gray shared his experiences as a career diplomat in the Foreign Service    [/caption]             [caption id="attachment_3004" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Ambassador Gordon Grey addressed members of the Greater Cincinnati World Affairs Council[/caption]