Contributions by Kentuckians in the Foreign Service

People born, raised, or educated in Kentucky have made important contributions to America’s prosperity and security as members of the Foreign Service community. Here are some examples from ADST’s oral history collection:

Born in Wilmore, Paul Good entered the Foreign Service in 1963 with the U.S. Information Service. He was stationed in Thailand at the height of the Vietnam War and worked through coups d’état in 1973 Chile and in 1980 Suriname. Learn more about his harrowing time in the Foreign Service here.
A Louisville native, Ambassador Thomas Graham, Jr. played a crucial role in many key international arms control and non-proliferation agreements. Beginning work with the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency in 1970, he advanced such treaties as the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) and the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaties (START). You can read more about his fascinating and impactful career in his complete oral history.
A native of Lexington, David C. Summers began his Foreign Service in 1974. He was sent to report on Pope John Paul II’s historic 1979 trip to his Polish homeland, a visit that many say helped break communism’s grip in Eastern Europe. Read his full account in ADST’s collection.
Born and raised in Frankfort, David E. Simcox joined the Foreign Service in 1956. As Director of the State Department’s El Salvador Task Force beginning in 1979, he dealt with the chaos engulfing the country, from roaming death squads to the tensions created by the murder of the country’s Archbishop. Read more about his efforts to protect American interests in his complete oral history.
Raised on a farm outside of Lexington, Thomas M. T. Niles served as Ambassador to Canada, the European Union, and Greece. Whether it involved dealing with the fallout from Yugoslavia’s 1992 disintegration as the Assistant Secretary to European Affairs, or combating persistent anti-American sentiments in Greece throughout the 1990s, Niles’ career was as exciting as it was varied. Learn more about him here.
Born in Kentucky, Katherine Inez Lee entered the Foreign Service in 1976 and told America’s story as a public affairs officer from Bogotá to Barbados. As a Black woman and during her time as Diplomat-in-Residence at Spelman College, she helped recruit and mentor underrepresented officers to bring more diversity to the foreign service. Her full oral history is available on ADST’s website.