Richard Armitage is the former Deputy Secretary of State under President George W. Bush. Prior to returning to government service in 2001, Mr. Armitage was President of Armitage Associates L.C. from May 1993 until March 2001. He has been engaged in a range of worldwide business and public policy endeavors.

From March 1992 until his departure from public service in May 1993, Mr. Armitage directed U.S. assistance to the new independent states (NIS) of the former Soviet Union. From 1989 through 1992, Mr. Armitage filled key diplomatic positions as Presidential Special Negotiator for the Philippines Military Bases Agreement, as Special Mediator for Water in the Middle East and as Special Emissary to Jordan’s King Hussein during the 1991 Gulf War. In the Pentagon from June 1983 to May 1989, he served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs.

Mr. Armitage has received numerous U.S. military decorations as well as decorations from the governments of Thailand, Republic of Korea, Bahrain, and Pakistan. He has been awarded the Department of State Distinguished Service Award, the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service four times, the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Award for Outstanding Public Service, the Presidential Citizens Medal and the Department of State Distinguished Honor Award.