Former Secretary of State John Kerry Joins the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace As Visiting Distinguished Statesman

WASHINGTON – The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is pleased to welcome former U.S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry as its inaugural visiting distinguished statesman.

“John Kerry’s lifelong commitment to international peace and understanding embodies the mission and purpose of the Carnegie Endowment,” said Carnegie President William J. Burns. “His experience, wisdom, and belief in the power of diplomacy are needed now more than ever.”

John Kerry served as the 68th U.S. secretary of state from 2013 to 2017 following nearly three decades as a United States Senator from Massachusetts, including serving as the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. A decorated Vietnam War veteran, leading environmentalist, and 2004 nominee for president of the United States, Kerry remains one of the most respected voices in American public life and on the world stage—an individual the New York Times last year described as “America’s Mr. Diplomacy.” 

As secretary of state, Kerry and his colleagues in the Obama administration worked successfully to achieve a multilateral agreement to curb the Iranian nuclear program, hold Afghanistan together and create a unity government, forge a coalition united against ISIL, and elevate issues like climate change and oceans policy as critical priorities in American foreign policy. 

“The Carnegie Endowment is synonymous with serious, substantive, strategic work toward peace and progress, informed always by independent, non-partisan analysis. I am excited to be working with Carnegie to continue the pursuit of fresh answers to vexing problems both new and old,” said Secretary Kerry. “I’m particularly looking forward to working again with Ambassador Bill Burns, whom I respected so much for so many years when we served together in government.”

At the Carnegie Endowment, Secretary Kerry will focus on conflict resolution and global environmental challenges, and will both draw on and contribute to the efforts of Carnegie’s 100 scholars in 20 countries to tackle the central issues of our time.