Ambassador James “Jim” S. Gilmore III is a Former U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The US Senate confirmed Mr. Gilmore as U.S. Ambassador to the OSCE on May 23, 2019.
Mr. Gilmore grew up in the Fan District of Richmond, Virginia. In 1971, he enlisted as a volunteer in the U.S. Army after college and worked as a counter-intelligence agent in then-West Germany after intensive language training in German, in which he became fluent. In 1974, he was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal for Service to NATO. He graduated from the University of Virginia (UVA) and earned a B.A. degree in International Relations, Russian Area Studies (1971). He then earned his law degree at the UVA School of Law (1977). He practiced law until 1987 when he was elected as chief prosecutor for Henrico County. In 1993, he was elected Attorney General of Virginia.
In 1997, he was elected as Virginia’s 68th Governor. As governor, his administration established the first Secretary of Technology cabinet position in the nation. During his tenure, Governor Gilmore was focused on creating jobs by leading several trade missions to South America in 1999 (Argentina, Brazil, and Chile), Asia in 2000 (Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan), and Europe in 2001 (Germany, United Kingdom, and Ireland).
During the trade mission to Taiwan and Hong Kong, Governor Gilmore promoted inward investment, opened new markets for Virginia products and services, and encouraged activity in Virginia’s ports. Virginia exported $2.4 billion in products to Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong in 1999. Collectively, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong invested over $4.3 billion in Virginia facilities, employing over 12,000 people during his administration.
Mr. Gilmore ran for the GOP nomination for president from July 2015 to February 2016. In November 2018, he was nominated to serve as the U.S. Representative to the United States Mission to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, a position which carries the rank of ambassador and is based in Vienna, Austria. His nomination was confirmed by a voice vote of the U.S. Senate on May 23, 2019. Gilmore was sworn in at the U.S. State Department on June 25, 2019, and presented his credentials to the OSCE Secretary General on July 2, 2019. He served until January 2021.
Mr. Gilmore traveled to Ukraine in May 2021 and headed up a delegation. He met with numerous Ukrainian cabinet and national security officials. Other travels have taken him to Israel, Pakistan, Croatia, Austria, the Czech Republic, Australia, and Peru. Today, he is a Council on Foreign Relations member and serves on the advisory board of the American Foreign Policy Council.
From 1999 to 2003, Mr. Gilmore served as Chairman of the Congressional panel known as the “Gilmore Commission” to assess America’s capabilities to respond to a terrorist attack. Other prominent positions include serving as chairman of the Air Force Academy Board of Visitors. Prior to his USOSCE Ambassadorship, he served as President and CEO of the American Opportunity Foundation, which works to shape the discussions around American society and offer conservative solutions that promise prosperity, national security, and American values. Since leaving office, he has served on several corporate boards of directors. He is married to Roxane Gatling Gilmore, and they have two adult sons and one granddaughter.