Hon. Eric Nelson

Eric Nelson recently completed 34 years in the U.S. diplomatic service, including as the U.S. Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) (2019-2022). There he led the U.S. Government’s efforts to advance its security partnership with BiH, expand economic prosperity, combat corruption, advance political reforms, strengthen the rule of law, and launch a new leadership development program to empower youth. Across his career Eric has been a champion of diversity and inclusion and was a founding officer in 1992 of glifaa+, the association of LGBT+ employees fighting for equal opportunity and treatment in foreign affairs agencies. Eric is eager to help the Victory Institute empower LGBTQI candidates across the globe, making democracies more representative and more resilient.

Eric most recently served as the Associate Director of the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany (2022-24). As Ambassador-in-Residence, Eric contributed a whole-of-society perspective to the German-American center’s mission to educate, engage and empower rising leaders in security from across Europe and the globe. He led efforts to create a human security program and advance inclusion of women in peace and security.

Eric previously served as Executive Director of the Executive Secretariat supporting three Secretaries of State. As Director of the Office of eDiplomacy, Eric was selected as one of fourteen visionary leaders in federal information technology by Fedscoop magazine. He also served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Costa Rica, Consul General in Munich as well as in Islamabad, Milan, Mexico City, Frankfurt and Santo Domingo. Eric began his career in public service as a Peace Corps Volunteer teaching in Liberia.

During his diplomatic career, Eric received numerous awards for effective leadership, innovation and public diplomacy, including the Presidential Rank Award in 2022. In 2023, Rice University recognized him as a Distinguished Alumnus for service to his country and accomplishments in advocacy of democracy, equality and human rights.

Eric resides in Germany and Italy with his partner Filippo.