On Wednesday, April 24, 2024, Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School welcomed former Ambassador of the United States to Afghanistan, Ronald E. Neumann, to address some of the High School students and faculty. Montgomery Catholic was honored to welcome Mr. Neumann, as he presented and discussed Afghanistan and the Middle East.
Mr. Neumann first told his personal story of how he came to work in foreign services for the U.S. and then opened the floor for students to ask questions. He answered various questions regarding US involvement in Afghanistan, his own personal experiences as Ambassador, and what it meant to him to serve in such an impactful position for our country.
“Ambassador Neumann discussed several fascinating topics, such as the conflict and challenges in Afghanistan and working as a Foreign Service Officer,” MCPS Junior Peter Riello said. “I enjoyed the backstory he gave on his own life and I learned about the balance between fighting terrorism and nation-building when dealing with foreign countries.”
Mr. Neumann served three times as Ambassador: to Algeria (1994-1997), Bahrain (2001-2004), and Afghanistan (July 2005 – April 2007). Before Afghanistan, Mr. Neumann served in Baghdad with the Coalition Provisional Authority and then as Embassy Baghdad’s liaison with the Multinational Command, where he was deeply involved in political actions taken by the military.
Mr. Neumann is the author of a memoir and book: Three Embassies, Four Wars: a Personal Memoir (2017) and The Other War: Winning and Losing in Afghanistan (2009). He is the author of several monographs, articles, and editorials focusing on Afghanistan. At The American Academy of Diplomacy, Mr. Neumann currently focuses on maintaining adequate State and USAID budgets and staffing and upgrading professional formation for these institutions to fulfill their responsibilities. Mr. Neumann is on the board of the Middle East Policy Council, the Advisory Boards of the non-profit school for Afghan girls, the School of Leadership, Afghanistan (SOLA), Spirit of America, the Friends of the American University of Afghanistan, and a member of the Combat Infantryman’s Association.
Mr. Neumann has received several awards, including the State Department Superior Honor Awards in 1990 and 1993, the Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal while in Baghdad, and the American Foreign Service Association’s award for Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy. Mr. Neumann is a Vietnam veteran who served as an Army infantry officer and holds a Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal, and Combat Infantry Badge. He earned a B.A. in history and an M.A. in political science from the University of California at Riverside. He is a graduate of the National War College.
