Leadership in Global Engagement Award

For the 75th anniversary of the Denver Council on Foreign Relations the organization began awarding distinguished members of the community with the Leadership in Global Engagement Award. Recipients are recognized for their outstanding achievements in linking Denver, the Front Range, and Colorado via global, international, national, statewide, and local engagement.

Award Qualifications

Awardees need to be able to show specific examples of linking Colorado to international organizations, groups, or non-profits by:

Working in Colorado on matters of international affairs, foreign policy, international development, global sustainability, or national security
Working in Colorado with corporations, organizations, or non-profits internationally
Working in the US or abroad on international affairs, foreign policy, or community development that can be applied in Colorado
Being part of an organization that generates new policies, events, or charity that have helped international communities
Generating new research or information that contributes to foreign policy, international events, or international development awareness in Colorado (or the US more broadly)

U.S. Citizenship and Colorado Residency are not a requirement for getting this award.

If you know someone who fits this description and would like to nominate them please reach out to [email protected]. We want this to be a community!

Past Awardees

2025: Janine Davidson

Janine Davidson, Ph.D., has served as president of Metropolitan State University of Denver since 2017. She is a national thought leader in higher education and on topics such as public service, U.S. foreign policy and national security.

Davidson began her career as an Air Force officer and cargo pilot. She was a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Squadron Officer School and was the first woman to fly the Air Force’s tactical C-130. Prior to her time at MSU Denver, Davidson served as the 32nd undersecretary of the U.S. Navy, appointed by then-President Barack Obama .

She has taught at George Mason University, Georgetown University, Davidson College and various professional military schools, and was an aviation and aerobatics flight instructor at the U.S. Air Force Academy. She returned to the classroom in 2020 at MSU Denver, co-teaching a course on the philosophical and legal origins of freedom of speech in the United States.

2024: Richard Lackey

Richard Lackey is a serial entrepreneur with a unique background that includes several years in emergency medical response and medical missions, as well as almost three decades as an active trader and fund manager. He has appeared as an expert in the field in magazines and on radio and television.

Mr. Lackey has held eight different securities licenses spanning equity, options and futures markets. Mr. Lackey has served as the Managing Director for five private funds. His expertise in emergency response management as well as the inefficiencies of markets led him along with a world-class team of experts to create the World Food Bank.

The World Food Bank is responsible for establishing the world’s most valuable commodities as the world’s newest and potentially safest asset class. Mr. Lackey is also passionate about utilizing the World Food Bank as a solution for the inefficiencies that exist between small farmers and regional and global markets.

Mr. Lackey has authored three books on technical analysis and investment management and is a co-developer of the market prediction software PTI. In addition to leading the World Food Bank, he regularly consults for startup companies needing innovative solutions, marketing direction, or board leadership.

2023: General George W. Casey (ret)

General George W. Casey, Jr. is one of the most accomplished soldiers in U.S. history and an authority on strategic and transformational leadership. As the 36th Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army from April 2007 to 2011, General Casey led what is arguably the world’s largest and most complex organization, 1.1 million people strong, with a $200+ billion annual budget, during one of the most extraordinary periods in military and global political history. He is widely credited with restoring balance to the war-weary U.S. Army and leading the transformation necessary to ensure the Army remained relevant in current conflicts. Prior to this post, General Casey commanded the Multinational Force-Iraq, a coalition of more than 30 countries, where he guided the Iraq mission through its toughest days.

2022: Brian Vogt

Brian Vogt has been CEO of Denver Botanic Gardens since April 2007. Nearly 30 years of community leadership, fundraising, organizational management and cultural development proceed his appointment. In his time, attendance has grown to over 1.3 million per year, programs have been launched to address access to food in urban areas, a comprehensive diversity and inclusion project has been integrated into daily activity, the Center for Global Initiatives was launched focusing on plant research and crop genetics, and an exhibity program has curated works by legends such as Henry Moore, Dale Chihuly and Alexander Calder. Over his tenure more than 60 construction projects and over $110 million worth of investments were made.

Previous professional experience includes three Cabinet positions for the State of Colorado and the President of the South Metro Chamber of Commerce. Vogt serves as President of the Board of the American Public Gardens Association and as Board Treasurer for the Plant Select. He was awarded the 2019 Cynthia Pratt Laughlin Medal for leadership in environmental protection and quality of life from the Garden Club of America. He is an active participant with many civic organizations in the Denver area and speaks frequently on intentional culture, regeneration and leadership. He holds a BA in Classical Antiquity from the University of Colorado.

2021: George Sparks

George Sparks has been the President & CEO of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science since November 2004. He spent 24 years in the electronics measurement business at Hewlett-Packarge and Agilent Technologies. His career included marketing, sales, and general management of global business in software, systems, and services.

George’s career and impact have literally traversed the globe. As an executive for Hewlett Packard, he ran global projects for more than 20 years, leading research and development and marketing teams in Scotland, Japan and Germany. In one role, he led a team of 1800 technical support people in 16 different time zones, integrating many different cultural expectations and norms. And as vice president for Hewlett Packard’s wireless communications business, his team created tools and software for cellular technology developers.

2020: Dr. Doug Jackson

Dr. Douglas Jackson serves as the President and CEO of Project C.U.R.E. Each week, Project C.U.R.E. delivers approximately four semi-truck loads of donated medical supplies and equipment to desperately needy people around the world. Since 1987, Project C.U.R.E. has delivered equipment and supplies to hospitals and clinics in over 135 countries. In addition to delivering approximately equipment and supplies, Project C.U.R.E. sends teams of medical professionals to assist partner hospitals and clinics. They also provide hundreds of hours of training through the Helping Babies Breathe and Helping Mothers Survive curriculum. More than 20,000 people volunteer with Project C.U.R.E. every year, making the organization one of the most efficient and effective grass-roots organizations in the country.

2019: Kim Day

Kim Day was destined for a career in aviation. As a U.S. Air Force brat, Kim was exposed to travel and airplanes at an early age. She developed a love of travel, despite being dragged with her brother to every Civil War battlefield in America. Her interest in airports came after receiving a Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.) degree from Cornell University, and practicing architecture for more than 20 years. After working on office buildings, hotels, and prisons (hotels without the nice finishes and furniture), she began work on airports – and found her passion.

Kim’s new-found passion led a transition from the private sector to Los Angeles World Airports—the agency that manages Los Angeles International Airport, Ontario International Airport, Van Nuys Airport, and Palmdale Regional Airport. There she initially oversaw design and construction, and later was appointed as executive director.

2018: Social Science Foundation (SFF)

The Social Science Foundation (SSF) supports the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver. It was established in 1923 and today manages a multi-million dollar trust, the proceeds of which are dedicated to promoting the study and application of international relations at the undergraduate and graduate levels. In recent years, the SSF has helped finance the school’s unique certificate programs in global health and humanitarian assistance while providing seed capital for new centers and research institutes.

2017: Professor Ved Nanda

On May 10th, DCFR concluded its exciting year by hosting the 2017 Leader in Global Engagement Award celebration where the award was presented to Professor Ved Nanda. This annual event was the organization’s fourth gala in which it awarded an outstanding patron of the Rocky Mountain Region for their historic contributions to the international community.

Professor Ved Nanda is not only a pillar of the local Denver community, but one whose extensive contributions to the national and international law communities have earned him this year’s Award.

2016: Daniel L. Ritchie

In January 2007, Daniel L. Ritchie became Chairman and CEO of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, one of the largest cultural complexes in the United States, a position he held until 2017. Prior to that, he was Chairman of the Board of the University of Denver from 2005 to 2007 where he served as the 16th Chancellor for 16 years from 1989 to 2005.

Ritchie’s involvement with the University of Denver began in 1983 when he became a trustee. He served as vice chairman of the board and chaired the development committee before becoming Chancellor.

In his nearly 20 years of involvement with DU, the oldest private university in the Rocky Mountain region, the school has steadily gained stature and strengthened academic programs.

2015: Ambassador Christopher R. Hill

Ambassador Christopher R. Hill served as a peace corps volunteer in the Republic of Cameroon from 1974 – 1976 before joining the State Department in 1977. Throughout his diplomatic career, he served as Ambassador of the United States to the Former Yugoslav Repbulic of Macedonia from 1996 – 1999, Special Envoy to Kosovo from 1998-1999, Ambassador to Poland from 2000 – 2004, and Ambassador to the Republic of Korea from 2004 – 2005.

2014: Mayor Michael Hancock

Michael B. Hancock, who became the city’s 45th mayor in July 2011, immediately began to transform Denver into a more globally competitive city. With the fifth-busiest airport in the United State serving more than 54 million passengers per year, Mayor Hancock is leveraging Denver International Airport (DIA) to make the entire Denver region a major gateway to the world.

The Mayor has also developed strategic short- and long-term business plans to support and grow Denver’s diverse, intelligent and forward-leaning businesses in emerging industries such as clean energy, bio-technology, telecommunications, aerospace and healthcare. Denver’s economy is at the forefront of American cities, offering among the strongest job and housing markets in the U.S.