Bill Richardson

Bill Richardson

In Memoriam
Former Governor of New Mexico

During his professional career, Governor Bill Richardson has held leadership positions in the private, government and not-for-profit sectors. From 2010 to the present, Governor Richardson has operated the Richardson Center for Global Engagement, a foundation focusing on conflict resolution, prisoner release and environmental protection.

Governor Richardson has more than 30 years of government experience. His latest government position was serving as a two-time Governor of New Mexico (2003-2010). Since he left the Governorship, he has been active in the paid-speech circuit both nationally and internationally, serves on numerous public- and private-sector boards, is an MSNBC-Telemundo contributor, and consults for various energy and technology companies in the U.S. and overseas. He is also a frequent contributor for numerous network news programs, including Meet the Press and This Week with George Stephanopoulos.

Prior to his entry into the private sector, Governor Richardson represented New Mexico in the 3rd Congressional District in the U.S. Congress for 15 years (1982-1996). He then was appointed by President Clinton to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and Secretary of Energy (1997- 2000). As a diplomat and Special Envoy to the Organization of American States (OAS) from 2010-2016, Richardson successfully won the release of hostages and American servicemen in North Korea, Cuba, Iraq and the Sudan. He also chaired the board of Freedom House, a private nonprofit organization that promotes democracy and human rights worldwide.

In 2008, Governor Richardson sought the Democratic nomination for President and ran in several Presidential primaries.

Governor Richardson currently serves on various boards and advisory groups. He is a member of the international boards of Tecnicas Reunidas and Abengoa, both Spanish energy firms. He also is the only American board member of the International Commission Against the Death Penalty.

In addition to the Richardson Center, Richardson started the Foundation to Protect New Mexico Wildlife with actor-director-conservationist Robert Redford. He is also a member of the NCAA Hall of Fame, the National Council for Science (NCSE) and the Environment, World Resources Institute (WRI) and Refugees International.

The Governor has won many international and domestic leadership awards and has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize four times. He has lectured at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, the University of New Mexico and New Mexico State University, and the United World College. Additionally, he served as a Special Fellow on Latin America at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy at Rice University. He has authored three books and is listed in several Who’s Who organizations.

Governor Richardson earned a B.A. from Tufts University and an M.A. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, and holds more than 10 honorary degrees. He currently resides in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Chatham, Mass, with his wife Barbara.

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