Millennium Magazine_5th Ed

197 Millennium - A Marquis Who’s Who Magazine D eveloping a deep interest for international relations during his college years, Herman Jay Cohen knew he wanted a career in international work and philanthropy. He received a BA in liberal arts from the City University of New York in 1953 and went on to graduate from American University in 1962. Ambassador Cohen also holds honorary doctorates from St. Augustine’s College and Southeastern University. After earning his bachelor’s degree, he joined the U.S. Foreign Service in 1955. Since 1993, Ambassador Cohen has been a consultant and founder at Cohen &Woods International. Prior to this appointment, he served the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., as assistant secretary for African affairs, as well as special assistant to the President and senior director for Africa with the National Security Council. He was also an ambassador for the Republics of Senegal and Gambia, Dakar, while serving as deputy assistant secretary, deputy director general and director for the Bureau of African Affairs and the Bureau of Intelligence and Research. He was a political counselor for the American Embassy in Paris, the deputy chief of missions for the American Embassy in Kinshasa, Zaire, and the economic commercial officer for the American Embassy in Lusaka, Zambia. Ambassador Cohen is the author of the books “U.S. Policy toward Africa: Eight Decades of Realpolitik,” “The Mind of the African Strongman: Conversations with Dictators, Statesmen and Father Figures,” and “Intervening in Africa: Superpower Peacemaking in a Troubled Continent.” For his success, the American Foreign Service Association recognized him for his lifetime contributions to diplomacy in 2019. He was also granted the Christian A. Herter Award from the U.S. Department of State, the French Legion of Honor and the Belgian Order of Leopold II. The highlight of his career came in 1991 when he was able to negotiate the end of two civil wars in Ethiopia and Angola. A member of the Council on Foreign Relations, Ambassador Cohen believes it is important to emphasize the need for professional and diplomatic services, as they are the front line of U.S. security. HERMAN JAY COHEN DIPLOMAT, CONSULTANT TO U.S. INVESTORS IN AFRICA Cohen & Woods International Washington, D.C. GOVERNMENT AND MILITARY