Public Diplomacy Council of America

Video Available: The essential role of partnership between public diplomacy and those pursuing economic and commercial progress

Video of the program is available on PDCA's YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCNYb0LEkxM

Ambassador Earl Anthony Wayne, a member of PDCA's Board of Directors, will lead a discussion of the link between Public Diplomacy and U.S. commercial and economic diplomacy at the July 14 Forum. The forum will take place at noon via Zoom.

Ambassador Wayne is the Hurst Senior Professorial Lecturer and Distinguished Diplomat in Residence at American University's School of International Service. In addition to his role at AU, Wayne was a Public Policy Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and Co-Chair of its Mexico Institute Advisory Board. He is a Senior Non-Resident Adviser at the Atlantic Council and at the Center for Security and International Studies. Ambassador Wayne served as a U.S. diplomat from 1975 to 2015, including as Ambassador to Argentina (2006-2009), Coordinating Director for Development and Economic Affairs and Deputy Ambassador in Kabul (2009-2011), and Ambassador to Mexico (2011-15). He was Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs (EB) under three Secretaries of State (2000-2006) and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe (1997-2000). The U.S. Senate confirmed him as a Career Ambassador, the highest rank in the US Foreign Service, in 2010. He received multiple honors during his government service, including the 2017 Director General’s Cup for the Foreign Service and the 2015 Cobb Award for Initiative and Success in Trade Development.

Other speakers at the July 14 Forum include Ambassador Charles P. Ries, an adjunct senior fellow at the RAND Corporation. His research focuses on the economics of development, trade, and transatlantic and Middle East affairs. Among his recent RAND publications are: "The Foreign Service and American Public Opinion" and "Pathways to a Durable Israeli-Palestinian Peace." Previously, Ries served as vice president for International Affairs at RAND (2012–2020). He served as U.S. Ambassador to Greece (2004–07) and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs (2000–04); in the latter capacity, he oversaw the U.S.-European Union relationship, economics, energy, and public diplomacy. Ries had earlier assignments in London, Brussels, Ankara, and Santo Domingo. He was detailed to USTR as Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for North American Affairs and was a member of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiating team.

Another speaker is Daniel Crocker, a retired Senior Foreign Commercial Service officer, who is Senior Counselor at Veracity Worldwide. He has more than 20 years of experience promoting and defending U.S. economic security through assignments in Washington, Europe, and Latin America. Prior to his diplomatic career, he worked in engineering management positions at Accel and Sequoia Capital, as well as at Benchmark-funded tech startups. He also worked in manufacturing and in oil and gas exploration in the United States and Africa. He was previously a member of the FSJ Editorial Board.

Commenting on public diplomacy's role in economic and commercial diplomacy will be Larry Schwartz, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs responsible for directing U.S. public affairs and educational and cultural affairs programs between the United States and partners in the Middle East – North Africa region. He served in diplomatic assignments in the Middle East, South Asia, Africa, East Asia, and Europe for over 34 years. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Public Diplomacy Council of America.

In advance of the July 14 discussion, participants may want to read the following articles from the Foreign Service Journal:

"What Is Economic Diplomacy and How Does It Work?" by Tony Wayne, January-February 2019.
"Advancing U.S. Economic Interests Overseas in an Era of Rising Tariffs," by Daniel Crocker, June 2025.