Many of the current presidential candidates have expressed a desire to reshape or rebuild the U.S. image abroad through increased diplomatic efforts. Is the State Department equipped to handle greater demands on its resources and diplomatic corps? What funding challenges does the State Department currently face, and how can the next President deal with those challenges? What would a fully funded diplomatic corps look like? To discuss these questions and more, please join Ambassador Neumann, President of the American Academy of Diplomacy and former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan.

The discussion will be held 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 27th. To attend, please register by responding to events@ypfp.org and be sure to state your name and affiliation.

Ambassador Ronald E. Neumann

Formerly a Deputy Assistant Secretary Ronald E. Neumann served three times as Ambassador; to Algeria, Bahrain and finally to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan from July 2005 to April 2007. Before Afghanistan, Mr. Neumann, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, served in Baghdad from February 2004 with the Coalition Provisional Authority and then as Embassy Baghdad's principal interlocutor with the Multinational Command, where he was deeply involved in coordinating the political part of military operations in Fallujah, Najaf, and other areas.

Prior to working in Iraq, he was Chief of Mission in Manama, Bahrain (2001-2004), where, as Ambassador, he worked on maintaining the balance between urging progress on democratic reform and expanding solid relations with a friendly monarchy that was beginning important political reforms. Before that, Ambassador Neumann served as a Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Near East Affairs (1997-2000), where he directed the organization of the first separately-funded NEA democracy programs and also was responsible for the bureau's work in developing the North African Economic Initiative for Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria. Before that assignment, he was Ambassador to Algeria (1994 to 1997) and Director of the Office of Northern Gulf Affairs (Iran and Iraq; 1991 to 1994). Earlier in his career, he was Deputy Chief of Mission in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and in Sanaa in Yemen, Principal Officer in Tabriz, Iran and Economic/Commercial Officer in Dakar, Senegal. His previous Washington assignments include service as Jordan Desk officer, Staff Assistant in the Middle East (NEA) Bureau, and Political Officer in the Office of Southern European Affairs.

Ambassador Neumann speaks some Arabic and Dari as well as French. He received State Department Senior Foreign Service pay awards in 2004, 2003, and 1999 as well as individual Superior Honor Awards in 1993 and 1990. He served as an Army infantry officer in Viet Nam and holds a Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal and Combat Infantry Badge. In Baghdad, he was awarded the Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal. He earned a B.A. in history and an M.A. in political science from the University of California at Riverside.