Head of International Rescue Committee Joins Caterpillar’s Bill Lane in Leading Group

Washington, DC—The U.S. Global Leadership Coalition today announced that George Rupp will join Bill Lane as co-president of its board of directors.  Along with USGLC honorary chairman General Colin Powell, every living former Secretary of State and numerous other former cabinet secretaries and Members of Congress, Rupp will play an integral part in the organization’s mission to advocate for a strong and effective International Affairs Budget and elevate America’s smart power tools of development and diplomacy.

“We are fortunate to have George’s leadership and expertise at the helm of the USGLC,” said George Ingram, chairman of the USGLC.  “Pairing George’s knowledge of the humanitarian aid and development community with Bill Lane’s expertise in the business world makes for a powerful team.”

In his role, Rupp will join USGLC co-president Bill Lane, Caterpillar’s Washington Director, in providing oversight and direction to the USGLC’s mission, which brings together over 400 businesses and non-governmental organizations that share a commitment to advocating for a strong and effective U.S. International Affairs Budget.

“I am honored to be a part of the USGLC’s leadership and its ongoing effort to increase investment in the U.S. International Affairs Budget,” said Rupp.  “From my work at the IRC, I see firsthand how critical international aid and development assistance is to saving lives and fostering stable and healthy communities.  Enhanced investment in international development will only strengthen the country’s foreign policy, economic and national security goals.”

Rupp is the president and CEO of the International Rescue Committee and a globally recognized leader in development and humanitarian assistance.   Prior to the IRC, he was the president of Columbia University and Rice University, as well as the John Lord O’Brian Professor of Divinity and dean of the Harvard Divinity School.  He is the author of numerous articles and five books, including Globalization Challenged: Conviction, Conflict, Community.

Rupp replaces Nancy Lindborg, the former USGLC co-president and president of Mercy Corps, who is now the Assistant Administrator of USAID for the Bureau of Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance.

“I look forward to working with George as we demonstrate to Capitol Hill the broad support existing for the International Affairs Budget from both the NGO and business communities,” said Bill Lane.  “We also owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Nancy Lindborg for her leadership, and we congratulate her in her new role at USAID.”

The U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (www.usglc.org) is a broad-based influential network of 400 businesses and NGOs; national security and foreign policy experts; and business, faith-based, academic and community leaders in all 50 states who support a smart power approach of elevating diplomacy and development alongside defense in order to build a better, safer world.

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