Press Release | Alonzo Fulgham Appointed New Vice Chair for American Academy of Diplomacy – December 21, 2020

Washington, D.C. - The Board of Directors of the American Academy of Diplomacy has unanimously appointed the Honorable Alonzo Fulgham to replace Ambassador Marc Grossman as the Vice-Chair of the Academy. The Board believes Mr. Fulgham's broad background in diplomacy and foreign assistance, as well as his active involvement in numerous Academy projects, make him particularly well-suited to take on the role that Ambassador Grossman has recently relinquished. The appointment is effective immediately.

Academy President Ambassador Ronald E. Neumann welcomed the appointment, saying that "Alonzo Fulgham will bring exactly the needed background, vision and experience to help the Academy excel in its work to strengthen American Diplomacy.”

Alonzo L. Fulgham is a seasoned International Development Policy, Planning, and Operations Executive. A career Foreign Service Officer of the Agency for International Development (USAID), he was appointed in 2009 by then President Barack Obama as Acting Administrator (CEO) for and was responsible for planning, development and execution of the United States’ development policy and humanitarian assistance programs, both during the Presidential Transition and the first full year of his Administration. Mr. Fulgham previously served as the Agency’s first Chief Operating Officer and before that as Mission Director to Afghanistan. In his long career with USAID, he led U.S. Government development and humanitarian assistance programs, laid foundations for real human progress and market-led growth, managed large-scale development and nation-building programs, and established and led strategic civilian-military nation-building partnerships on three continents.

In March of 2020, Mr. Fulgham took on new corporate responsibilities as the Executive Vice President-Defense/Homeland for VIATEQ Corporation of McLean, VA. Prior to joining VIATEQ, Mr. Fulgham was the founding principal of his own enterprise, TJM International Consultancy. Earlier he served as the Senior Vice President for Strategy and Sustainable International Development – CH2M HILL. He is a current member of the Board of Directors for Palladium International, Shared Interest, The Council on Foreign Relations, and the International Advisory Council of the Carnegie Mellon University Center for International Relations and Politics.

Of his new duties at the Academy, Alonzo shares, “I assume these new responsibilities with humility and anticipation. I am honored that this august body has selected me and charged me with the serious work of helping to lead it forward in the new decade. I am anxious to join Ambassador Neumann and our exceptional membership as we seek to expand our reach, diversify our ranks, and set a global standard for diplomatic engagement in a rapidly changing world.”

Ronald E. Neumann AAD President