Roger Kirk (November 2, 1930 – January 18, 2023) was an American career diplomat who was United States Ambassador to Somalia[1] (1973–75) and Romania[1] (1985–1989). He was born in Newport, Rhode Island.[2]

Roger Kirk
United States Ambassador to Romania
In office
November 29, 1985 – July 5, 1989
PresidentRonald Reagan
George H. W. Bush
Preceded byDavid B. Funderburk
Succeeded byAlan Green, Jr.
United States Ambassador to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization
In office
September 18, 1980 – June 15, 1983
PresidentRonald Reagan
Preceded byJohn Charles Leary
Succeeded byRichard S. Williamson (as United Nations International Organizations in Vienna)
United States Ambassador to Somalia
In office
October 8, 1973 – February 20, 1975
PresidentRichard Nixon
Gerald R. Ford
Preceded byMatthew J. Looram, Jr.
Succeeded byJohn Lewis Loughran
Personal details
Born(1930-11-02)November 2, 1930
Newport, Rhode Island, U.S.
DiedJanuary 18, 2023(2023-01-18) (aged 92)
Washington D.C., U.S.
Alma materPrinceton University
OccupationDiplomat

Biography

edit

Kirk received a BA from Princeton University in 1952 and served in the US Air Force from 1952 to 1955.[2] From 1973 until 1975 he was the US Ambassador to Somalia.[3] In 1978 he was nominated to be the Deputy Representative of the US to the International Atomic Energy Agency,[2] in which capacity he served from 1978 until 1983.[3] From 1985 until 1989 he was the U.S. Ambassador to Romania.[3] He was a member of the American Academy of Diplomacy.[4] Kirk died from pneumonia in Washington D.C., on January 18, 2023, at the age of 92.[5]

Throughout his career, Kirk shared multiple oral histories with the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training.[6]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Congressional Record - Proceedings and Debates of the 109th Congress First Session. Vol. 151 part 8. Government Printing Office. 2005. p. 11471. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
  2. ^ a b c Carter, Jimmy Earl. Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, Jimmy Carter, 1978, Book 1: January 1 to June 30, 1978. National Archives and Records Service, Office of the Federal Register. p. 317. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
  3. ^ a b c Hopkins Miller, Robert (1992). Inside an embassy: the political role of diplomats abroad. Congressional Quarterly. p. 140. ISBN 9780871877130. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
  4. ^ "Members". American Academy of Diplomacy. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
  5. ^ "Ambassador Roger Kirk". Legacy. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  6. ^ "The Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training Foreign Affairs Oral History Project AMBASSADOR ROGER KIRK" (PDF). Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training. 21 May 1991. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by U.S. Ambassador to Somalia
1973 – 1975
Succeeded by
Preceded by United States Ambassador to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization
1980-1983
Succeeded byas Ambassador to the United Nations International Organizations in Vienna
Preceded by U.S. Ambassador to Romania
1985 – 1989
Succeeded by