Robertson School of Government Distinguished Statesman Award Series

Give to everyone what you owe them: … if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Romans 13:7.

Honoring Extraordinary Servant Leaders Who Have Led the Way

The Robertson School of Government believes it is fitting and proper to honor those whose public service built up our nation and lifted our people. That’s why we are proud to announce our Distinguished Statesman Award Series to highlight and honor those who have sacrificially enhanced our country through their extraordinary contribution to public service.

This uplifting award series celebrates truly extraordinary heroes: current or recent statesmen who have served in government in the pattern of America’s earliest brilliant statesmen—men and women of character and honor.

The Inaugural Distinguished Statesman Award

As we present the Distinguished Statesman Series to you, join us as we celebrate our first recipient of Regent University Robertson School of Government’s Distinguished Statesman Award recipient: The Honorable Michael R. Pompeo

About the Honorable Michael R. Pompeo

Pompeo has a remarkable history of public service and academic excellence. Below highlights some of his most outstanding achievements:

2018-21

70th U.S. Secretary of State—appointed by President Donald J. Trump

2017-18

Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)—appointed by President Donald J. Trump

2011-17

Member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Kansas’s 4th congressional district; Kansas representative on the Republican National Committee

1994

Earned Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School; editor of the Harvard Law Review

1986-91

Officer in the United States Army

1986

Graduated first in his class from the United States Military Academy at West Point

Apart from focusing on national security, technological leadership and global engagement at Hudson Institute, where he serves as a distinguished fellow, Pompeo helped craft U.S. foreign policy as Secretary of State. He also led a team that executed America’s largest global repatriation effort in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

About the Distinguished Statesman Award Sculpture

We specifically chose a sculpture of General George Washington kneeling in prayer, seeking guidance from his Heavenly Father as he led the revolutionary army to defeat the greatest military power of the age, Great Britain. Washington was brilliant, yet modest, a scholar though he continually lamented his lack of formal education. More than anything, Washington exhibited unwavering character in his public and private life when no one was looking. A dedicated man of faith, humble, brave, courageous, tenacious, a fighter who was cool under pressure.