WASHINGTON, DC – Liz Schrayer, President and CEO of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC), released the following statement on the passing of Richard Armitage:

The USGLC family mourns the loss of Richard Armitage — a titan of American foreign policy and a tireless public servant. From his military service to his diplomatic leadership, including as Deputy Secretary of State, he was guided by an unwavering commitment to principled American global leadership.

As Deputy Secretary of State, Mr. Armitage was instrumental in standing up the Millennium Challenge Corporation, one of the most innovative tools of international assistance that has had a lasting impact on how we measure and account for our programs across agencies.

We were honored to have him as a longtime member of our National Advisory Council (NAC) and will be forever grateful for his support in launching our National Security Advisory Council (NSAC). More than fifteen years ago, Richard Armitage stood with us, recognizing that military leaders were some of the strongest voices in support of our civilian tools, noting, “diplomacy and development, alongside defense, are critical to keeping America safe.” With his support, the group of 20 that attended the original launch of USGLC’s NSAC is now over 270 retired three-and four- star Generals and Admirals that give voice to this mission.

On a personal note, I am grateful to Rich’s wise guidance and thoughtful values projecting America’s role in the world. His enduring dedication to public service leaves an indelible legacy and our thoughts are with his family who mourn this enormous loss.