An official website of the United States Government Here's how you know

Official websites use .gov

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Elizabeth Slater and Director General Carol Perez sit in armchairs on the stage for the launch of the Heroes of U.S. Diplomacy initiative.

Heroes of U.S. Diplomacy

Share this page on:

The Heroes of U.S. Diplomacy Initiative:

Recognizing Heroes from Our Past and Present

Heroes of U.S. Diplomacy

In September 2019, the U.S. Department of State launched a new initiative called “Heroes of U.S. Diplomacy.” The Department of State will highlight modern-day “Heroes Among Us,” alongside heroes from our Department’s rich history. These heroes have displayed sound policy judgment, as well as intellectual, moral and even physical courage while advancing U.S. foreign policy goals.

U.S. diplomatic missions overseas and domestic bureaus nominated current or recently retired Department of State employees for modern-day selectees. The Department of State’s Office of the Historian nominated figures for the historical portion of this initiative. Heroes may be current or former Civil Servants, Foreign Service Generalists or Specialists, non-career appointees, or Eligible Family Members and Locally Employed Staff affiliated with the Department of State. The finalists were selected by a Steering Committee comprised of senior Department officials.

For general inquiries, please direct your message to HeroesOfDiplomacy@state.gov.

Ambassador Smith Leads Moderated Panel Discussion at the Heroes Of U.S. Diplomacy Event Honoring Diplomatic Officers and U.S. Consuls During World War I
Foreign Service Institute Director Ambassador Daniel B. Smith moderates panel discussion at the Heroes of U.S. Diplomacy event at the U.S. Department of State on October 29, 2019.
Panelist Dr. Lindsay Krasnoff discusses the contributions of diplomatic officers and their volunteer spouses, who helped oversee massive relief initiatives to help civilians. Pictured on screen: Mildred Barnes Bliss.
Panelist Dr. Lindsay Krasnoff discusses the contributions of diplomatic officers and their volunteer spouses, who helped oversee massive relief initiatives to help civilians. Pictured on screen: Mildred Barnes Bliss.
Foreign Service Institute Deputy Director Ambassador Julieta Valls Noyes interviews Heroes of U.S. Diplomacy honoree Robert Hopkins at the U.S. Department of State on November 20, 2019.
Moderator and panelists at the Heroes of U.S. Diplomacy event honoring Dr. Ralph J. Bunche.
Moderator Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield with panelists Dr. Kal Raustiala, Dr. Ravi Perry, and Mr. Ralph Bunche III at the Heroes of U.S. Diplomacy event at the National Museum of American Diplomacy on February 27, 2020.
Audience members and panelists at the Heroes of U.S. Diplomacy program at the National Museum of American Diplomacy.
The Heroes of U.S. Diplomacy event honoring Dr. Ralph J. Bunche at the National Museum of American Diplomacy on February 27, 2020.

U.S. Department of State

The Lessons of 1989: Freedom and Our Future