Former Ambassador John Emerson delivered the 2016-17 Bernard Brodie Distinguished Lecture on the Conditions of Peace.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
JOHN B. EMERSON served as United States Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany from August, 2013 until January 20, 2017. As Ambassador he was responsible for Mission Germany, which includes the operation and activities of the Embassy, five consulates and nearly 2,000 employees, as well as for coordinating with the U.S. military command in Germany. He served at a particularly challenging time, and in 2015 Ambassador Emerson was awarded the State Department's prestigious Sue M. Cobb Award for Exemplary Diplomatic Service, which is given annually to one non-career Ambassador.
Prior to accepting his post, Mr. Emerson was President of Private Client Services for the Capital Group Companies, from 1997-2013; served on President Obama’s Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations from 2010-2013; served on President Clinton's senior staff from 1993 to 1997 (Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, where he was the President's liaison to the nation's governors and led the Administration's efforts to obtain Congressional approval of the GATT Uruguay Round Agreement); served as LA’s Chief Deputy City Attorney from 1987-1993; and was a law partner at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips.
Active on a number of civic and charitable boards, Mr. Emerson graduated from Hamilton College (AB) and University of Chicago (JD). He is married to human rights activist Kimberly Marteau Emerson. The Emersons have three daughters in college.