Home2018 Honored Guests

Welcome Kåre R. Aas, Ambassador of Norway to the United States, serving as our Grand Marshal this year.

The ambassador’s distinguished career with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs began in 1983. Aas was accredited as Norway’s Ambassador to the United States on September 17, 2013. Prior to his current position, he served in Oslo as Political Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Preceding his assignment as Political Director, Aas served as Norway’s Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan from 2008-2010. During his tenure in Afghanistan, Norway focused on education, good governance, rural development and collaboration with civil society. From 2003 to 2008, Aas served as Director General in the Department for Security Policy and the Arctic. In that capacity, he was responsible for Norwegian security policy and Norway’s strategic cooperation with European and Transatlantic partners, including NATO and Norway’s participation in international operations. Ambassador Aas was also responsible for Norwegian policy and obligations within the fields of disarmament and nonproliferation, nuclear safety, Norway’s strategic policy regarding the Arctic, and bilateral relations with the USA, Canada, Russia, Eastern Europe, South-Caucasus and Central Asia.

From 2005-2007 he served as Norway’s Governor to the International Atomic Energy Agency (I.A.E.A.) Board of Governors. Furthermore, Aas chaired and was a member of various international groups working on nuclear disarmament, nonproliferation and international peacekeeping operations. During his career, Aas has also been posted to Chile, Norway’s Permanent Delegation to NATO in Brussels, and the Permanent Mission of Norway to the United Nations in Geneva. Ambassador Aas was born on May 25, 1955 in Oslo, Norway. He has three daughters and one son.