Brandon Grove facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brandon Grove
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| Director of the Foreign Service Institute | |
| In office July 5, 1988 – August 14, 1992 |
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| President | George H. W. Bush Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Charles Bray |
| Succeeded by | Lawrence Taylor |
| United States Ambassador to Zaire | |
| In office September 18, 1984 – September 18, 1987 |
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| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Peter Constable |
| Succeeded by | William C. Harrop |
| Inspector General of the Department of State Acting |
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| In office May 1, 1978 – July 5, 1978 |
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| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Robert M. Sayre |
| Succeeded by | Theodore L. Eliot Jr. |
| United States Ambassador to East Germany Acting |
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| In office December 9, 1974 – December 20, 1974 |
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| President | Gerald Ford |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | John Sherman Cooper |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Brandon Hambright Grove Jr.
April 8, 1929 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | May 20, 2016 (aged 87) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Spouse | Mariana Moran |
| Education | Bard College (BA) Princeton University (MPA) |
Brandon Hambright Grove Jr. (April 8, 1929 – May 20, 2016) was an important American diplomat. He served as the U.S. Ambassador to East Germany and Zaire. He also led the Foreign Service Institute, which trains U.S. diplomats.
Contents
Who Was Brandon Grove?
Brandon Grove Jr. dedicated 35 years of his life to serving the United States. He worked as a diplomat under nine different presidents. His career took him to many countries around the world.
Early Life and Education
Brandon Grove Jr. was born in Chicago, Illinois, on April 8, 1929. He went to Bard College and earned a degree in 1950. Later, he received a master's degree from Princeton University in 1952.
Before becoming a diplomat, Grove served in the United States Navy. He was an amphibious boat group commander and reached the rank of Lieutenant. He also worked for a U.S. Congressman before joining the United States Foreign Service in 1959.
A Career in Diplomacy
As a diplomat, Brandon Grove had many important jobs. He worked in different parts of the world, including Africa, India, and Berlin.
Serving Around the World
- In 1974, he became the first American diplomat to work in East Germany. He helped set up the U.S. embassy there.
- From 1984 to 1987, he was the U.S. Ambassador to Zaire (now called the Democratic Republic of the Congo).
- He also served as Consul General in Jerusalem during a time when Israel was in conflict with Lebanon.
Important Roles in Washington D.C.
When he was not overseas, Grove held key positions in Washington D.C.
- He helped manage U.S. relations with Panama, Central America, and the Caribbean.
- He also worked on policy planning for two U.S. Secretaries of State, Henry Kissinger and Warren Christopher.
Leading the Foreign Service Institute
From 1988 to 1992, Ambassador Grove was the director of the Foreign Service Institute. This is where U.S. diplomats and foreign affairs professionals get their training. He helped design and build its main facility in Virginia.
Awards and Recognition
Brandon Grove received several honors for his public service.
- In 2000, Bard College gave him the John Dewey Medal.
- In 2010, he received an honorary degree from Bard College for his work in diplomacy.
- He also received the President's Meritorious Service Award three times.
His Book
In 2005, Brandon Grove wrote a book about his life as a diplomat. It is called Behind Embassy Walls: The Life and Times of an American Diplomat.
Later Life
Brandon Grove Jr. passed away on May 20, 2016, in Washington, D.C., at the age of 87.
