Ambassador Symington visits CGSC

Former U.S. Ambassador Stuart Symington visited CGSC May 6-7 as as part of the CGSC Foundation’s DACOR Visiting Professor of Diplomacy program.

Escorted by Assistant Professor Bill Pugh from the Department of Joint, Interagency and Multinational Operations, Symington spent time in several CGSOC classes in discussions with students about national security, civil-military relations, peace operations, African strategic studies, national security policy and diplomacy. On May 7, the second day, he also visited Leavenworth High School to speak with students in an AP government class. After his time with CGSOC students on May 7, he met with Foundation leadership and trustees for a dinner in downtown Kansas City.

The CGSC Foundation’s DACOR Visiting Professor of Diplomacy program is designed to bring a recently retired U.S. Foreign Service Officer (normally a retired ambassador) to visit the Command and General Staff College for discussions with students and faculty on issues including statecraft, international security, policy, trade and civil-military relations, among other related topics. Occasionally the Foundation shares the visiting diplomats with local area high schools and colleges as an outreach program and to benefit more students knowledge about national security. The program is run in coordination with the Diplomatic and Consular Officers-Retired (DACOR) organization in Washington, D.C.

W. Stuart Symington IV is the former United States Ambassador to Nigeria from 2016 to 2019. Previously, he was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Central Africa and African Security Affairs (2015-2016), U.S. Special Representative for the Central African Republic (2014-2016 and Political Advisor to the Commander NORAD/US Northern Command 2011-2014). He served as Ambassador to Rwanda (2008-2011), Ambassador to Djibouti 2006-2008), and Deputy Chief of Mission and Charge’ d’affaires in Niger (2001-2003). He was also United States Department of State’s Representative at the Joint Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia from 2005-06, Political Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq from 2004-05, and Deputy Director of the Department’s Office of West African Affairs from 2003-05.

Earlier in his career, Symington served in Ecuador, Mexico, Spain and Honduras and as a Pearson Fellow in the Office of U.S. Congressman Ike Skelton. Before joining the Department of State he practiced law in Missouri, New York, London, and Paris.

Symington received a B.A. from Brown University and a J.D. from Columbia Law School. He and his spouse Susan Ide Symington have been married for 40 years.