In celebration of Hungary’s national holiday on March 15th, President Tamás Sulyok awarded Tibor Nagy, former Undersecretary for African Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit of Hungary. Tibor Nagy is a member of HF’s Academic Advisory Board and is currently on public service leave. This prestigious recognition honors his dedicated efforts in strengthening diplomatic ties between Hungary and the United States.
A distinguished career diplomat and ambassador, Tibor Nagy dedicated 34 years to government service, with over two decades spent across Africa. Since January 20, 2025, he has served as the Undersecretary of Administration at the U.S. Department of State. Additionally, he is a member of the advisory board at the Hungary Foundation.
Born on April 29, 1949, in Budapest, Hungary, Nagy arrived in the United States as a political refugee in 1957. His father, a colonel in the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, was sentenced to death by the communist regime for his involvement. While his mother and siblings remained in Hungary, Nagy and his father sought refuge in the U.S.
At 23 years old, Nagy joined the U.S. Department of State, initially focusing on Sub-Saharan Africa. He later served as the U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia and Guinea, Deputy Chief of Mission in Nigeria, and held diplomatic roles in Cameroon, Togo, Zambia, and the Seychelles. In 2018, he returned from retirement to take on the role of Undersecretary for African Affairs, later retiring again after the administration transition. His contributions have earned him numerous international honors.
Beyond his government service, from 2003 to 2018, Nagy served as the Associate Vice President for International Affairs at Texas Tech University, where he lectured on Africa, foreign policy, and international development. A prolific writer, he has contributed to various global affairs journals and co-authored the book Kiss Your Latte Goodbye: Managing Overseas Operations, which won the non-fiction category at the 2014 Paris Book Festival.
Fluent in English, Hungarian, and French, Nagy resides in Texas with his wife, Janene. They have three children: Péter, István, and Tisza. Proud of his Hungarian heritage, he continues to maintain close ties with the Hungarian Embassy in Washington, even in retirement.
Congratulations to Tibor Nagy on this remarkable achievement!
