Thomas Pickering

Thomas Pickering is an experienced US diplomat who before retiring, served for more than 40 years as a US Ambassador to the United Nations, the Russian Federation, India, Nigeria, El Salvador, Israel, and Jordan.

He holds the rank of Career Ambassador which is the highest rank in the US Foreign Service. He is also a member of the Bulletin’s Science and Security Board.

Pickering has been awarded the Distinguished Presidential Award and the Distinguished Service Award. He has published multiple books including Afghanistan: Negotiating Peace (2012) and Jago Pakistan (2012). Currently, Pickering is a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution and an active member of several non-profit boards.

Pickering's Bulletin contributions: 

• Interview: Thomas Pickering on diplomacy, Iran, Korea, Russia, realpolitik, and the ethics of war