Statesman and leader, Colin L. Powell

For many of us with the Department of State, now in senior ranks or retired, Secretary of State Colin Powell was an incredible breath of fresh air to the department. As busy as his schedule was, he made a point to attend every commissioning ceremony at the Department of State for new Foreign Service Officers. As Secretary of State, he instituted mandatory leadership training for entry, mid and senior level officers.

I recall meeting Secretary of State Powell on several occasions when he would travel around the world for various diplomatic meetings. He made a point of having a meet-and-greet with locally employed staff, foreign service officers and their families at the various US Missions throughout the world. I particularly remember an occasion when he asked after a meeting that the housekeeping and janitorial staff remain behind after the meeting so he could thank each one of them for their contribution to the Mission. He was an incredible leader who understood how to empower others to become leaders.

He was a person of great humility, despite regretfully being the point person in the security council for the justification for the war against Iraq, but who was able to publicly acknowledge his mistake.

Colin Powell did not see himself as an African American, the man was color blind when it came to race and ethnic differences. He saw himself as an American in service to his country and as part of his legacy is leadership, truth, and humility that inspires those values to a new generation of leaders.