Ambassador (ret.) Art Brown is a senior executive with expertise in leadership, national security, and foreign policy. He has devoted much of his 34-year career to service in Africa, Southwest Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean regions. Brown is currently President and CEO of Leadership Initiatives Group LLC which is a global advisory practice. Art Brown served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Ecuador (2024-2025). He directed policy and security initiatives focused on migration, biodiversity, human rights, and counter-narcotics, and negotiated with senior government and private sector leaders to strengthen trade, governance, and rule of law. Previously, Art Brown did long term details to the Department of State as Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) in both the Dominican Republic and Zimbabwe. Ambassador Brown served multiple tours as USAID Mission Director in Nicaragua, Zimbabwe and the Dominican Republic. Additionally, he has served in Kabul, Afghanistan and in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo as USAID Deputy Mission Director. Ambassador Brown has an MBA (Johns Hopkins University), a BA (University of Virginia), and an MS in National Security Strategy from the National War College. Ambassador Brown served as a Peace Corps Volunteer (1991-1995) in Bénin, West Africa.