It is with deep regret and sorrow that I must report the death of my friend, colleague and fellow TAGGER, Ambassador Robert E. Hunter.  Robert was a powerhouse of knowledge, insight and wisdom, a great Atlanticist and American who served his country with great distinction. He was also a firm friend of Europe. ‘Bob’ will be greatly missed. 

Rest in Peace, Bob!   – Dr. Julian Lindley French

Robert E. Hunter – A Lifetime of Service

Robert E. Hunter was a senior American diplomat and foreign policy strategist with decades of service at the highest levels of U.S. and international security policy. He was a Partner at Ambassador Partnership in London and a member of the American Academy of Diplomacy in Washington, DC.

He served as U.S. Ambassador to NATO (1993–1998), where he was a principal architect and negotiator of the post–Cold War “new NATO,” co-author of the Partnership for Peace, and a key negotiator of the NATO air campaign that helped bring an end to the Bosnia War. Earlier, he held senior positions on the National Security Council, leading on Europe (1977–79) and the Middle East (1979–81), and authored the Carter Doctrine announced in the 1980 State of the Union address.

Hunter advised U.S. policymakers across multiple administrations, including as Foreign Policy Advisor to Senator Edward Kennedy, and held senior policy roles in eight U.S. presidential campaigns, writing speeches for three presidents and four vice presidents. He also served on the Defense Policy Board and the International Security Advisory Board, and was Senior International Consultant at Lockheed Martin Overseas Corporation from 1998 to 2012.

His career included affiliations with leading policy institutions such as IISS, CSIS, RAND, the National Defense University, and the NATO Defense College, as well as teaching at five universities. He published more than 1,500 works on international affairs and served as lead consultant to the National Bipartisan Commission on Central America.

Robert E. Hunter held a BA from Wesleyan University and a PhD from the London School of Economics. He received the U.S. Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Medal twice and eight foreign decorations, including France’s Légion d’honneur.