The Honorable William C. Harrop (1929 - 2025)

Ambassador William C. Harrop

The Board of Directors and staff of the Diplomacy Center Foundation (DCF) are saddened to announce the passing of Ambassador William (Bill) Harrop on June 6th, 2025. During his 39-year career as a Foreign Service officer, Bill served as the U.S. Ambassador to Guinea, Kenya, Seychelles, Zaire, and Israel. He was Inspector General of the State Department and Foreign Service, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, a member of the State Department's Policy Planning and Coordination staff, and Deputy Chief of Mission to Australia. He also served in Italy and Belgium. His wife of almost seventy years, Ann Delavan Harrop predeceased Bill. She travelled with him overseas and was a vital support to his career and in promoting the legacy of the Foreign Service.

Bill was Chair of the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) from 1972 to 1974. He received the State Department Distinguished Honor Award, the Presidential Distinguished Service Award, the 2001 DACOR Foreign Service Cup, and the 2015 AFSA Award for Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy.

He was the former Chair of the Diplomacy Center Foundation Board of Directors. Under his tenure, the 20,000 square foot pavilion opened in 2017 as a first step towards the opening of a full museum of American diplomacy. He continued to serve on the Foundation's Board as the Chair of the Trustee Council until his passing.

Throughout his career Bill demonstrated the highest degree of professionalism, dedication, and service. He remains greatly admired by his colleagues as he established an exemplary legacy for the Foreign Service.