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60th Program Year - Third Meeting
November 10, 2008
Tanoan Country Club
U.S. – Mexico Relations:
A Difficult Marriage, but Divorce is Impossible
Dr. John A. Ritchie
Dr. John A. Ritchie is an Independent Consultant, and has served as Liaison for the State Department
to Congress on Immigration issues (2008); as Coordinator, U.S.-Mexico Border Affairs (2004-06);
and as U.S. Consul General in Monterrey, Mexico, (2001–04). Before that, he served in the embassies
in Mexico City, Montevideo (1993-96), Madrid (1989-93), Brasilia (1986-89), Krakow (1981-83), and
Lima (1978-80), and as Political/Intelligence Liaison Officer, Cuban Affairs (1983-86).
He is a respected Ph.D. analyst of complex public and private policy issues, and an effective
advocate for trade expansion and overseas business operations.
In his various roles, he co-negotiated an end to Mexico's Rio Grande water debt to the
United States and streamlined the permitting process for North American border infrastructure
projects. He coordinated the first-ever multi-agency counter-terrorism assistance program abroad,
and guided trade/labor relations in NAFTA and MERCOSUR countries. He brokered settlements for
investment and labor disputes; promoted trade, migration, counter-terrorism, and
law enforcement policies; and fostered operationally relevant contract research projects for the
Department of State; and has spoken publicly on trade, labor, border, immigration, and
foreign policy issues. He was cited for Outstanding Leadership in directing diplomatic
operations overseas.
Dr. Ritchie holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Southern Illinois University,
and M.S. and B.S. degrees in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin.
He is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese.
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