Thomas R. Pickering

Thomas R. Pickering is a retired American diplomat who served as the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, the third-ranking position in the United States Department of State. His distinguished career spanned over four decades, during which he held ambassadorships to six nations and served as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations. Recognized for his deep expertise in crisis management and multilateral diplomacy, he played key roles in shaping United States foreign policy during the Cold War and the post-Cold War era.

Early life and education

Born in Orange, New Jersey, he graduated from Bowdoin College in 1953 with a degree in History. He subsequently studied at the University of Melbourne in Australia on a Fulbright Scholarship before earning a master's degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. His early career included service as a naval officer from 1956 to 1959, after which he joined the United States Foreign Service in 1959, marking the beginning of his diplomatic journey.

Diplomatic career

His diplomatic postings were extensive and strategically significant, beginning with early assignments in Tanzania and Jordan. He served as United States Ambassador to Jordan from 1974 to 1978 during a turbulent period in the Middle East. Following assignments as Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs and United States Ambassador to Nigeria, he was appointed United States Ambassador to Israel from 1985 to 1988. His tenure coincided with the First Intifada and complex peace efforts. In 1989, President George H. W. Bush appointed him United States Ambassador to the United Nations, where he helped manage international response to the Gulf War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union. He later served as United States Ambassador to India and then as the first post-Cold War United States Ambassador to Russia from 1993 to 1996, navigating the relationship with Boris Yeltsin's government. From 1997 to 2000, he served as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs under Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, overseeing major global regions and crises.

Post-government roles and affiliations

Following his retirement from the United States Foreign Service in 2000, he assumed senior roles in the private sector and think tanks. He served as Senior Vice President for International Relations at Boeing and later as Vice Chairman of Hills & Company, an international consulting firm. He has been a distinguished fellow at the Brookings Institution and remains active with organizations like the American Academy of Diplomacy and the Council on Foreign Relations. He has also served on the boards of the International Crisis Group and Human Rights First, contributing to policy debates on international security and conflict resolution.

Awards and honors

His service has been recognized with numerous high honors, including the Presidential Distinguished Service Award and the Department of State Distinguished Service Award. He is a recipient of the Secretary of State's Distinguished Service Award and the Director General's Cup for the Foreign Service. In 2016, he received the prestigious Foreign Affairs Award for Public Service from the United States Department of State. He holds honorary degrees from several institutions, including Bowdoin College and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

Personal life

He is married to Alice Stover Pickering, and the couple has three sons. An avid sailor and historian, he maintains a residence in Washington, D.C. and continues to write and lecture extensively on international affairs, diplomacy, and national security.

Category:American diplomats Category:United States ambassadors to the United Nations Category:1931 births Category:Living people