James Larocco

Ambassador James Larocco is former director of the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies at the National Defense University and a veteran diplomat. He served as Director General of the Multinational Force and Observers on the Sinai Peninsula, Principal Deputy Assistant Security of State for Near East Affairs, Ambassador to Kuwait, Deputy Chief of Mission in Israel, Minister-Counselor for Economic Affairs in China, Director of the American Institute in Taipei, Taiwan, and Deputy Director of the Department of State Office of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh Affairs. He began his Foreign Service career as Commercial Attache in Saudi Arabia. Ambassador Larocco received the State Department Superior Honor Award and was presented the Distinguished Honor Award. He retired from the Foreign Service with the personal rank of Career Minister, equivalent to the military rank of Lieutenant General.