Diplomacy from Midwest Lenses: Reflections from Wisconsin's U.S. Ambassadors –Ebola to Ukraine

Ambassador and Congressman (Ret.) Mark Green served as the U.S. Ambassador to Tanzania from mid-2007 to early 2009. While there, he led a mission of more than 350 Americans and Tanzanians and was ultimately responsible for some of the world’s largest U.S.-led development programs. Prior to serving as Ambassador, he served four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives representing Wisconsin’s 8th District. He is now President of the International Republican Institute, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that works to advance democracy and freedom worldwide. He joined the International Republican Institute as president in January 2014. Prior to joining IRI in January 2014, Ambassador Green served as president and chief executive officer of the Initiative for Global Development, a nonprofit organization that engages corporate leaders to reduce poverty through business growth and investment in Africa, and senior director at the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, a network of 400 businesses, nongovernmental organizations, policy experts and other leaders supporting development tools in American foreign policy. Ambassador Green is also serving his second term on the Board of Directors of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Ambassador Green holds a law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire.

Ambassador Richard W. Graber served as United States Ambassador to the Czech Republic from September 2006 until January 2009.  As Ambassador, Rick was responsible for all matters affecting the United States in the Czech Republic and for maintaining and strengthening the historically friendly relationship between the countries.    Since leaving Prague, Rick has remained active in international affairs.  He is currently Senior Vice President of Global Government Relations for Honeywell International.  He is based in Washington, DC.  Prior to assuming his current role, Rick was responsible for Honeywell’s government relations efforts in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.  From 2010 until 2013, he was based in Brussels, Belgium.   Prior to joining Honeywell, Rick practiced law at Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren, one of Wisconsin’s largest law firms. Rick served for seven years as Chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin and as a member of the Republican National Committee.  He is a former director and Vice Chairman of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago.   Rick graduated from Duke University, magna cum laude, in 1978 and from Boston University Law School in 1981.  Rick is married to Alexandria Graber and they have two sons, Scott and Erik.

Ambassador Loftus served as the United States Ambassador to the Kingdom of Norway from November 1993 to December 1997. He was awarded the Grand Cross by His Majesty King Harald, the highest order of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit. He is now an international consultant specializing in Norway. Until recently he was a member of the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin, appointed by the Governor of Wisconsin in July 2005 and served into 2011. Ambassador Loftus served in the Wisconsin Legislature from 1977-1991 and was the Speaker of the House from 1983 to 1991. He was the longest serving Speaker in the history of the state. In 1990, he was the Democratic nominee for Governor of Wisconsin. Ambassador Loftus also has been a consultant to foundations that assist Parliaments in developing democracies, and completed projects with the new Hungarian Parliament (1990), the Parliament of Thailand (1991-1992), and others. Ambassador Loftus holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, a master's degree in public policy and administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Ambassador Loftus was a military policeman in the United States Army (1965-1967).