Bio
Ambassador Robert S. Gelbard is an international business consultant with a distinguished 35-year career in the U.S. Foreign Service. He has held senior diplomatic and policy roles across multiple administrations, including serving as President Clinton’s Special Representative to the Balkans, Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, and U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia, East Timor, and Bolivia.
Throughout his career, Ambassador Gelbard has played a pivotal role in shaping U.S. foreign policy. He served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South America, Deputy Treasury Representative and First Secretary at the U.S. Embassy in Paris and was a member of the Obama-Biden national security transition team. His expertise spans international security, democracy-building, and economic development, with leadership experience in complex geopolitical environments. In recognition of his service, he has received numerous honors, including the Secretary of State’s Distinguished Service Award, the Presidential Meritorious Award, the State Department's Superior and Meritorious Honor Awards, and the U.S. Coast Guard's Distinguished Public Service Award.
Ambassador Gelbard currently serves on corporate boards and the Board of Directors of Foreign Policy for America and is a member of the Ohrid Group. He began his career as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Bolivia and holds degrees from Colby College and Harvard University, along with honorary doctorates for his contributions to international democracy-building and peacekeeping.