Kenneth M. Quinn
{{short description|American diplomat}}
{{for|the cricketer|Kenneth Quinn (cricketer)}}
{{Infobox US Ambassador
| name = Kenneth M. Quinn
| image = Kenneth M. Quinn 2024 (cropped).jpg
| order = 10th
| ambassador_from = United States
| country = Cambodia
| term_start = December 12, 1995
| term_end = July 25, 1999
| predecessor = Charles H. Twining
| successor = Kent M. Wiedemann
| president = Bill Clinton
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1942|5|26}}
| birth_place = New York, New York
| death_date =
| death_place =
| spouse = Le Son Quinn
| children =
| alma_mater = {{Unbulleted list
| Loras College (B.A.)
| University of Maryland (Ph.D.)
}}
| profession = Diplomat
}}
Kenneth M. Quinn (born May 26, 1942) is the former President of the World Food Prize Foundation and a former career U.S. Foreign Service Officer. He was the president of the foundation for 20 years from January 1st, 2000 to January 3rd, 2020.{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=Ambassador Kenneth M. Quinn|url=https://www.worldfoodprize.org/en/about_the_foundation/ambassador_kenneth_m_quinn/|access-date=2021-12-23|website=www.worldfoodprize.org|publisher=World Food Prize Foundation|language=en-us}} Before assuming that role, Quinn spent 32 years working for the U.S. State Department. He has served as the United States Ambassador to Cambodia, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, as well as a member of the National Security Council staff at the White House.{{cite web|title=Ambassador Kenneth M. Quinn|url=http://www.worldfoodprize.org/en/about_the_prize/ambassador_kenneth_m_quinn/|work=worldfoodprize.org|publisher=World Food Prize Foundation|accessdate=4 January 2014|archive-date=6 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006151255/https://www.worldfoodprize.org/en/about_the_prize/ambassador_kenneth_m_quinn/|url-status=dead}}{{cite news |url=https://www.kcci.com/article/iowan-and-former-ambassador-recalls-role-in-vietnam-evacuation-50-years-ago/64640197 |title=Iowan and former ambassador recalls role in Vietnam evacuation 50 years ago |work=KCCI |location=Des Moines |date=April 30, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250501174506/https://www.kcci.com/article/iowan-and-former-ambassador-recalls-role-in-vietnam-evacuation-50-years-ago/64640197 |archive-date=May 1, 2025}}
Biography
Quinn was born in New York City in 1942, and he attended high school in Dubuque, Iowa.{{cite web|title=Kenneth M. Quinn|url=http://www.nndb.com/people/095/000130702/|work=NNDB.com|publisher=Soylent Communications|accessdate=4 January 2014}} Quinn received his undergraduate degree from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa. He went on to earn graduate degrees in international relations from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and the University of Maryland. He and his wife, Le Son, have three children.
Diplomatic career
Quinn was a 32-year career member of the U.S. Senior Foreign Service before he retired and joined the World Food Prize Foundation. He entered the United States Foreign Service in 1968 and has served in various Southeast Asian countries as well as Vienna and Washington, DC.{{Cite web |date=8 August 2013 |title=The Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training Foreign Affairs Oral History Project AMBASSADOR KENNETH M. QUINN |url=https://adst.org/OH%20TOCs/Quinn-Kenneth-M.-part-1.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240703174107/https://adst.org/OH%20TOCs/Quinn-Kenneth-M.-part-1.pdf |archive-date=3 July 2024 |access-date=1 August 2024 |website=Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training}} Quinn is fluent in Vietnamese and acted as interpreter for President Gerald Ford.
=Awards=
Quinn has received a number of awards, including the State Department's Award for Heroism and Valor for his work in Cambodia and Vietnam. For his combat operations participation in Vietnam, Quinn received the U.S. Army Air Medal, and he remains the only civilian ever to win this honor.{{cite web|title=Ambassador Kenneth Quinn Receives Army Air Medal|url=http://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2009/01/113819.htm|work=U.S. Department of State Archives|date=13 January 2009 |publisher=U.S. Department of State - Office of the Spokesman|accessdate=4 January 2014}} He also is a three-time recipient of the American Foreign Service Association's Rivkin and Herter Awards for courage in challenging policy.
Quinn is also a member of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.{{cite web|title=Kenneth M. Quinn|url=http://www.thechicagocouncil.org/files/Global_Agriculture/About_the_Initiative/Quinn_Biography.aspx|work=thechicagocouncil.org|publisher=The Chicago Council on Global Affairs|accessdate=4 January 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104211053/http://www.thechicagocouncil.org/files/Global_Agriculture/About_the_Initiative/Quinn_Biography.aspx|archivedate=4 January 2014}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.worldfoodprize.org/en/about_the_prize/ambassador_kenneth_m_quinn/ Biography at the World Food Prize Foundation website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006151255/https://www.worldfoodprize.org/en/about_the_prize/ambassador_kenneth_m_quinn/ |date=2016-10-06 }}
- {{C-SPAN|18065}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-dip}}
{{succession box | title=United States Ambassador to Cambodia | before=Charles H. Twining | after=Kent M. Wiedemann | years=1996–1999}}
{{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Quinn, Kenneth M.}}
Category:People from Dubuque, Iowa
Category:Diplomats from New York City
Category:Ambassadors of the United States to Cambodia
Category:Marquette University alumni