Overview

Richard Harvey Solomon (June 19, 1937 – March 13, 2017) was an American diplomat, academic, and institutional leader. He held senior posts in the U.S. State Department, represented the United States abroad, and spent two decades heading a national institution devoted to conflict management and prevention. His career combined government service, policy research, and practical efforts to reduce violent conflict.

Career and principal roles

Solomon served as Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs from 1989 to 1992, a period of geopolitical change in the region as the Cold War ended and new economic and security dynamics emerged. After that assignment he was appointed U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines, representing American diplomatic interests and working on bilateral cooperation in political, economic, and security matters. He later became president of the United States Institute of Peace in September 1993 and led that organization until September 2012. After leaving the Institute he continued public policy work as a senior fellow at the RAND Corporation.

  • Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (1989–1992): senior State Department portfolio covering diplomacy and regional policy.
  • U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines: senior bilateral post focused on diplomatic relations and collaboration with Filipino partners. Philippines
  • President, United States Institute of Peace (1993–2012): expanded programs in mediation, research, training, and grant-making.
  • Senior Fellow, RAND Corporation: continued engagement on policy research, conflict resolution, and regional affairs. RAND Corporation

Background and education

Solomon was born in Philadelphia, in the state of Pennsylvania. He pursued higher education in science and international affairs and was an alumnus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he studied before entering public service. His technical and academic training informed a career that bridged analytical work and on-the-ground diplomacy. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Contributions and legacy

Across roles in government and the nonpartisan Institute he led, Solomon emphasized practical approaches to reducing conflict: negotiation, institution-building, and connecting research to practitioners. His long stewardship of the U.S. Institute of Peace saw the organization grow its programming in mediation support, field training, and policy analysis, shaping how the United States and partners approach peacebuilding. After stepping down from that post, he continued to write, advise, and participate in policy research networks.

Later life and death

In his later years Solomon remained engaged in public affairs and research. He died on March 13, 2017, in Bethesda, Maryland, after an illness. Tributes from colleagues highlighted his role as a diplomat who combined thoughtful analysis with a commitment to peaceful conflict resolution.

Further notes

  1. Solomon's work spanned diplomacy, institution-building, and policy research.
  2. His leadership at the U.S. Institute of Peace left a lasting imprint on U.S. engagement in mediation and peacebuilding.
  3. He is remembered for bringing analytical rigor and pragmatic problem-solving to complex international issues.