The Cyrus R. Vance Fellowship in Diplomatic Studies

The Cyrus R. Vance Fellowship in Diplomatic Studies is offered to an outstanding Foreign Service officer with strong career prospects who will spend a year on educational assignment as a resident fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. The year provides the fellow with an opportunity to expand his or her understanding of international relations, with time away from public service to reflect on issues of U.S. foreign policy. The fellowship was established in 1975 and was renamed in 2002 to honor former Secretary of State Cyrus R. Vance.

Cyrus R. Vance (1917–2002)

Cyrus R. Vance had a long career in government and in law. He joined Simpson Thacher & Bartlett in 1946, and continued to work at the firm throughout his career, excluding periods of government service. He was secretary of the U.S. Army from 1961 to 1962, and served as deputy secretary of defense from 1964 to 1967. In 1968, Vance was designated one of the lead negotiators at the Vietnam peace talks in Paris. He served as secretary of state from 1977 to 1980, during which he played a crucial role in the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt. He later headed numerous diplomatic missions and remained an active philanthropist. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Council on Foreign Relations for thirteen years and served as vice chairman for five years.

Cyrus R. Vance Fellows

2011–12
Douglas P. Climan

2010–11
E. Candace Putnam

2009–10
Jacob Walles

2007–2009
J. Anthony Holmes

2005–2006
Evans J.R. Revere, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs

2003–2004
Christopher J. LaFleur, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs

2002–2003
Helena Kane Finn, U.S. Embassy, Ankara, Turkey

1999–2000
Morton Holbrook, U.S. Embassy, Beijing, China

1998–1999
Neil E. Silver, Minister-Counselor for Political Affairs, U.S. Embassy, Tokyo, Japan

1996–97
Victoria Nuland, Chief of Staff to Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott

1995–96
James F. Dobbins, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Inter-American Affairs, National Security Council

1994–95
Robert T. Grey Jr., Political Counselor, U.S. Mission to the United Nations

1993–94
John Hirsch, Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy, Johannesburg, South Africa

1985–86
Charles A. Schmitz, Political Advisor to the U.S. Air Forces in Europe

1982–83
Harry C. Blaney III, Office of Oceans, Environment, and Science

1981–82
Robert Ober Jr., Political Officer, U.S. Embassy, Moscow, USSR

1980–81
Alan Romberg, Country Director for Japan

1979–80
Philip Stoddard, Acting Deputy Director for Research

1978–79
Parker W. Borg, Principal Officer, U.S. Consulate, Lubumbashi, Zaire

1977–78
William G. Walker, Chief of Political Section, U.S. Embassy, San Salvador, El Salvador

1976–77
Anton W. DePorte, Western Europe Specialist, State Department Planning and Coordination Staff

1975–76
R. Grant Smith, Political Officer, U.S. Embassy, New Delhi, India

1974–75
E. Allan Wendt, Financial Economist, U.S. Mission to European Communities, Brussels, Belgium

Note: Titles reflect fellows’ positions just prior to joining CFR.