Edward Streator
Encyclopedia
Edward Streator is an American
diplomat. He was the 1991 winner of the Benjamin Franklin Medal for his significant contribution to global affairs through co-operation and collaboration between the United States
and the United Kingdom
. The Royal Society of Arts
called him "a global ‘big thinker’."
, graduating from there in 1952 with a bachelor's degree. He served four years as a lieutenant in the United States Navy
.
Streator served as a career United States Foreign Service
officer, starting in 1956, with postings in Addis Ababa
(1958–1960), Lomé
(1960–1962), Bureau of Intelligence and Research (1962–1964), and as a staff assistant to the Secretary of State (1964–1966). He was an adviser to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization for over ten years: in Paris
(1966–1968), in Brussels
(1968–1969), in Washington (1969 to 1975), and finally as deputy chief of mission and Deputy United States Permanent Representative to NATO
in Brussels (1975 to 1977). He was deputy chief of mission in London
from 1977 to 1984.
ambassador to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. He was nominated by President Ronald Reagan
for that position on July 28, 1984. He succeeded Abraham Katz.
, former Under Secretary of the Navy
and chief operating officer
of the Marshall Plan
under President Harry S Truman, at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, popularly known as the Washington National Cathedral
. They had three children, who in 1981 donated to St. John's Church Lafayette Square a stained glass window in his honor. His daughter Elinor had a society wedding in 1986. A lifelong Episcopalian
, he served as a member of the vestry
to St. John's Episcopal Church. His mother-in-law, Elinor, died in 1991, and his father-in-law, W. John Kenney, died in 1992.
. He is chairman of the New Atlantic Initiative
, "a network of policy institutes and individuals," which is affiliated with the American Enterprise Institute
. As part of his work for New Atlantic Initiative, he attended a conference in Prague
in 1996 about the Atlantic alliance. He was a member of the Founding Council of the Rothermere American Institute
, University of Oxford
and also serves on The Train Foundation (formerly the Northcote Parkinson
Fund) Board of Trustees, which awards the Civil Courage Prize
annually.
After his diplomatic service, Streator retired to Condom, France, where, according to the New York Times, he lived in "a magnificently restored country house a few miles outside town."
People of the United States
The people of the United States, also known as simply Americans or American people, are the inhabitants or citizens of the United States. The United States is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
diplomat. He was the 1991 winner of the Benjamin Franklin Medal for his significant contribution to global affairs through co-operation and collaboration between the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The Royal Society of Arts
Royal Society of Arts
The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce is a British multi-disciplinary institution, based in London. The name Royal Society of Arts is frequently used for brevity...
called him "a global ‘big thinker’."
Education and early career
Streator attended Princeton UniversityPrinceton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, graduating from there in 1952 with a bachelor's degree. He served four years as a lieutenant in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
.
Streator served as a career United States Foreign Service
United States Foreign Service
The United States Foreign Service is a component of the United States federal government under the aegis of the United States Department of State. It consists of approximately 11,500 professionals carrying out the foreign policy of the United States and aiding U.S...
officer, starting in 1956, with postings in Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
(1958–1960), Lomé
Lomé
Lomé, with an estimated population of 737,751, is the capital and largest city of Togo. Located on the Gulf of Guinea, Lomé is the country's administrative and industrial center and its chief port. The city exports coffee, cocoa, copra, and palm kernels...
(1960–1962), Bureau of Intelligence and Research (1962–1964), and as a staff assistant to the Secretary of State (1964–1966). He was an adviser to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization for over ten years: in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
(1966–1968), in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
(1968–1969), in Washington (1969 to 1975), and finally as deputy chief of mission and Deputy United States Permanent Representative to NATO
United States Permanent Representative to NATO
The United States Permanent Representative to NATO is the official representative of the United States to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The Representative has the rank of full ambassador and is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate...
in Brussels (1975 to 1977). He was deputy chief of mission in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
from 1977 to 1984.
Ambassador to OECD
Streator served as the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
ambassador to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. He was nominated by President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
for that position on July 28, 1984. He succeeded Abraham Katz.
Personal life
In 1957, Streator married Priscilla Kenney, the daughter of W. John KenneyW. John Kenney
William John Kenney was United States Assistant Secretary of the Navy 1945-46, Under Secretary of the Navy 1947-49, and the operating chief of the Marshall Plan 1950-52.-Early life and career:...
, former Under Secretary of the Navy
Under Secretary of the Navy
The Under Secretary of the Navy is the second-highest ranking civilian official in the United States Department of the Navy. The Under Secretary, called the "Under" in Pentagon slang, reports to the Secretary of the Navy ....
and chief operating officer
Chief operating officer
A Chief Operating Officer or Director of Operations can be one of the highest-ranking executives in an organization and comprises part of the "C-Suite"...
of the Marshall Plan
Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan was the large-scale American program to aid Europe where the United States gave monetary support to help rebuild European economies after the end of World War II in order to combat the spread of Soviet communism. The plan was in operation for four years beginning in April 1948...
under President Harry S Truman, at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, popularly known as the Washington National Cathedral
Washington National Cathedral
The Washington National Cathedral, officially named the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, is a cathedral of the Episcopal Church located in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. Of neogothic design, it is the sixth-largest cathedral in the world, the second-largest in...
. They had three children, who in 1981 donated to St. John's Church Lafayette Square a stained glass window in his honor. His daughter Elinor had a society wedding in 1986. A lifelong Episcopalian
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
, he served as a member of the vestry
Vestry
A vestry is a room in or attached to a church or synagogue in which the vestments, vessels, records, etc., are kept , and in which the clergy and choir robe or don their vestments for divine service....
to St. John's Episcopal Church. His mother-in-law, Elinor, died in 1991, and his father-in-law, W. John Kenney, died in 1992.
In retirement
Streator served on several prestigious civic boards after his service as a diplomat. Streator is on the board of overseers of the Whitehead School of Diplomacy and International Relations at Seton Hall UniversitySeton Hall University
Seton Hall University is a private Roman Catholic university in South Orange, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1856 by Archbishop James Roosevelt Bayley, Seton Hall is the oldest diocesan university in the United States. Seton Hall is also the oldest and largest Catholic university in the...
. He is chairman of the New Atlantic Initiative
New Atlantic Initiative
The New Atlantic Initiative was an international nonpartisan organization dedicated to revitalizing and expanding the Atlantic community of democracies...
, "a network of policy institutes and individuals," which is affiliated with the American Enterprise Institute
American Enterprise Institute
The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research is a conservative think tank founded in 1943. Its stated mission is "to defend the principles and improve the institutions of American freedom and democratic capitalism—limited government, private enterprise, individual liberty and...
. As part of his work for New Atlantic Initiative, he attended a conference in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
in 1996 about the Atlantic alliance. He was a member of the Founding Council of the Rothermere American Institute
Rothermere American Institute
The Rothermere American Institute is an institution at the University of Oxford dedicated to the interdisciplinary and comparative study of the USA. It was opened in May 2001 by US President Bill Clinton and hosts regular conferences, lectures and seminars, particularly in the fields of American...
, University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
and also serves on The Train Foundation (formerly the Northcote Parkinson
C. Northcote Parkinson
Cyril Northcote Parkinson was a British naval historian and author of some sixty books, the most famous of which was his bestseller Parkinson's Law, which led him to be also considered as an important scholar within the field of public administration.-Early life and education:The youngest son of...
Fund) Board of Trustees, which awards the Civil Courage Prize
Civil Courage Prize
The Civil Courage Prize is a human rights award which is awarded to "steadfast resistance to evil at great personal risk — rather than military valor." It is awarded by the Trustees of The Train Foundation annually and may be awarded posthumously....
annually.
After his diplomatic service, Streator retired to Condom, France, where, according to the New York Times, he lived in "a magnificently restored country house a few miles outside town."