Governor Jim Gilmore

Former AO/FCF CEO Jim Gilmore is now the Ambassador to The United States Mission to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

James S. "Jim" Gilmore III, was the 68th Governor of Virginia (1998-2002).  Jim Gilmore grew up in Richmond, Virginia.  He is a veteran of the U.S. Army.  In 1971, Jim Gilmore enlisted as a volunteer in the U.S. Army after college and worked as a counter-intelligence agent in then-West Germany after intensive language training in German, in which he became fluent.  In 1974, he was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal for Service to NATO.  After serving his country and receiving his law degree he was elected as chief prosecutor for Henrico County, and was elected Attorney General of Virginia in 1993.  In 2003, Mr. Gilmore served as chairman of the Air Force Academy Board of Visitors.  Mr. Gilmore was the Chairman of the Republican National Committee from 2001 to 2002. Mr. Gilmore graduated from the University of Virginia (UVA) and earned a B.A. degree in International Relations, Russian Area Studies.  He then earned his law degree at the UVA School of Law.   
 
As Governor he led extensive work in economic development including trade missions to The United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong.  Gov. Gilmore has also traveled to Israel, Pakistan, Croatia, Austria, Czech Republic, Australia, and Peru.  Gov. Gilmore is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a frequent participant in the Center for the National Interest, and has lectured at the Potomac Institute on homeland security and terrorism issues.
 
From 1999 to 2003, he served as Chairman of the Congressional panel to assess America’s capabilities to respond to a terrorist attack.  This panel is known as the "Gilmore Commission”.  He ran for the GOP nomination for president from July 2015 to February 2016.  He currently works in Alexandria at the American Opportunity Foundation as the President & CEO.  The American Opportunity Foundation, and its predecessor, the Free Congress Foundation, has worked for decades to shape the discussions around American society, and to offer conservative solutions that promise real prosperity, national security, and American values.  Since leaving office he has served on eight corporate boards of directors.  He is married to Roxane Gatling Gilmore and they have two grown sons.