Richard Soudriette

President, Center for Diplomacy and Democracy
Colorado Springs, Colorado 

Richard W. Soudriette served as the founding president of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) in Washington, D.C. from 1988 to 2007.  In 2007 he was named as president emeritus of IFES. Under his leadership, IFES grew into one of the world’s premier organizations offering technical assistance in elections, civil society, rule of law, and governance.  Mr. Soudriette helped to launch electoral networks in Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia.  He is a founding member of the Association of European Election Officials (ACEEEO) and serves on its advisory board. Mr. Soudriette served as a member of the U.S. Secretary of State’s Advisory Committee on Democracy Promotion during 2006 – 2008. He is the author of numerous journal articles and publications and is a guest lecturer at colleges and universities. In 2009 Mr. Soudriette became the president of the Center for Diplomacy and Democracy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, which is dedicated to promoting public diplomacy and democratic governance.