Ted Osius

A diplomat for nearly thirty years, Ted Osius served recently as U.S. ambassador to Vietnam for three years. He helped open the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City in the 90’s, and was one of the first U.S. diplomats at the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi. Leading a mission team of 900, Ambassador Osius devised and implemented strategies to deepen security ties, sign tens of billions of dollars’ worth of commercial deals, expand educational exchange, conclude agreements on trade, law enforcement, environmental protection, and address honestly a difficult past. His leadership helped bring about a positive transformation in U.S.-Vietnam relations.

As he worked to improve U.S.-Vietnam relations, Ambassador Osius came to know the heroes who sought to reconcile the two nations, including John Kerry, John McCain, Pete Peterson and Le Van Bang. Under four Presidents and seven Secretaries of State, Ambassador Osius contributed to reconciliation not just between governments, but between former combatants, and the people of both nations. The first openly gay U.S. ambassador to serve in East Asia, he was only the second career diplomat in U.S. history to achieve that rank.

Ambassador Osius has authored numerous books and articles on Foreign Service tradecraft and US-Asia policy, and is writing a book on US-Vietnam relations.