Curious about a senior American diplomat’s perspective on working for a U.S. Secretary of State and the inner workings of foreign policy?

Are you interested in what a diplomatic career and family life can look like? Or insights into the Vietnam war and lessons learned and not learned? Or insights into China’s “reform and opening up” and challenges in U.S.-China relations? Or Hong Kong’s historic return to China in 1997 and its future? Or insights into a second career in education leading three international schools and education in the twenty-first century?

This memoir, written by a former senior U.S. Foreign Service Officer, provides readers with an introduction to how the Department of State serves the American people, advances national security interests, and builds bridges to international understanding through its global network of embassies and other diplomatic missions. Mueller served in numerous overseas assignments, including two postings at the American Embassy in Saigon during the Vietnam War, at the United States Liaison Office in Beijing in the 1970s before the establishment of a formal embassy, and as the highest-ranking American diplomat in Hong Kong leading up to its reversion to China. Those postings gave him numerous opportunities to help build global bridges to understanding among diverse countries and peoples.

With firsthand insights, the author shares experiences working for Secretaries Henry Kissinger, George Shultz, and James Baker—offering a unique perspective on U.S. global foreign policies of the last fifty years.

After his career in the Foreign Service, serendipity led Mueller to become the Head of School for three independent institutions: Northfield Mount Hermon School (NMH) in Massachusetts, Hong Kong International School, and Shanghai American School. The NMH board of trustees had assured him that “diplomacy would be highly valued in the realm of education,” aligning with the school’s longstanding dedication to international education. Mueller explores his vision of a quality education centered on students and reflects on the rewarding experience of interacting with students and school communities for fifteen years, while collectively deepening their understanding of our interconnected world.

Mueller and his wife, Claire (also Foreign Service), and their family including seven grandchildren have fully embraced the international life of service and building bridges to understanding. They reside in Golden, Colorado.