Ambassador Richard N. Swett

Ambassador Richard N. Swett, FAIA served as US Ambassador to Denmark from 1998 through 2001. Twice elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, he served on the Committees on Public Works and Transportation; Science, Space and Technology; the U.S. Congressional Delegation for Relations with the European Parliament, and the Congressional Human Rights Caucus. He also introduced legislation to encourage energy conservation and use of renewable energy, which were included in the Energy Policy Act of 1992.

A licensed architect with experience in designing and managing high-rise mixed-use projects, Ambassador Swett’s worldwide business activities encompass architectural design, project management, corporate management, project development and finance. Areas of professional activity have included real estate, alternative energy development and production, energy conservation, industrial development and international export promotion.

He also has worked with U.S. government organizations such as USAID and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency. He is an active Senior Counselor with APCO Worldwide, a public affairs and strategic communications firm with 23 offices worldwide offering integrated services with “local experience and global perspective”.

Ambassador Swett’s primary commitment is as Managing Principal of the Washington, D.C. office of Leo A Daly, the eighth largest architectural design firm in the world. Working around the globe, he is redefining the profession by providing leadership of societal development through design.

A prolific writer, Ambassador Swett is the author of the book, Leadership by Design: Creating an Architecture of Trust and contributing author to A Nation Reconstructed.