Robert C. Orr

Robert Cameron Orr is a notable alumnus of San Marcos High School in Santa Barbara, California. Born in the same city, Orr has had a significant impact on both national and international stages. His illustrious career includes diverse roles within the United Nations, academia, and the US government.

Orr formerly served as the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Strategic Planning. During his tenure at the UN, Orr was instrumental in securing a delayed payment of nearly $1 billion of the US membership fees. He played an active role in the governmental offices, serving as the Deputy to the United States Ambassador to the United Nations and Director of the USUN Washington office. Additionally, Orr was the Director of Global and Multilateral Affairs at the National Security Council, where he was responsible for peacekeeping and humanitarian affairs.

Before joining the UN, Orr made significant contributions to academia and policy research institutes. He served as the executive director of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. He was also the Director of the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, D.C., of which he remains a member.

In the realm of education, Orr has had an equally impressive journey. He holds a Ph.D. and M.P.A. in international relations from the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University, and a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Orr's academic pursuits extend beyond English as he is also fluent in Spanish and Mandarin Chinese.

Currently, Orr serves as the Dean of the University of Maryland School of Public Policy. He continues to contribute to shaping future leaders and policy makers.

You can learn more about Robert C. Orr's career and contributions through Council on Foreign Relations and his appearances on C-SPAN.