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George Edward Glass | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Ambassador to Japan Nominee | |
| Assuming office TBD | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Succeeding | Rahm Emanuel |
| United States Ambassador to Portugal | |
| In office August 30, 2017 – January 13, 2021 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Robert A. Sherman |
| Succeeded by | Randi Levine |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Eugene, Oregon, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Mary Glass |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of Oregon (BS) |
| Occupation | Businessman |
George Edward GlassGCIH (born in 1960, Oregon) is an American businessman and former diplomat. He served as theUnited States ambassador to Portugal from 2017 to 2021. On December 16, 2024, PresidentDonald Trump announced Glass as his nominee to beUnited States ambassador to Japan.
George Glass was born in Eugene,Oregon and attendedSouth Eugene High School. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from theUniversity of Oregon.[1][2] Glass served as Alumni President at the University of Oregon.
George Glass was the founder, President, and Vice Chairman ofPacific Crest Securities, a technology focused investment bank in Portland, OR, from 1990 to 2014. After Pacific Crest Securities was purchased byKeyBank, he founded the real estate development firm MGG Development LCC. Glass has also served as a trustee for theOregon Health Sciences University and for the University of Oregon.
In 2017, George Glass was nominated byPresident Donald Trump[3] to become Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Portugal. The United States Senate confirmed his nomination[4] on August 3, 2017.[5] He presented his credentials to the President of the Portuguese Republic,Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, on August 25, 2017.[6]
During his tenure as Ambassador, Glass has sought to increase economic activity between the United States and Portugal,[7] including on agricultural and energy issues.
Glass has been vocal in criticizing Chinese investments in strategic sectors in Portugal. He has cast aspersions on a proposed takeover by China Three Gorges of the Portuguese energy companyEDP.[8] He has also been outspoken about U.S. concerns about the roleHuawei might play in future5G networks in Portugal and elsewhere.[9] In September 2020, in an interview toExpresso about the new 5G technology, Glass stressed that Portugal choose "between its friends and allies and China", hinting at consequences in defense partnerships if Portugal chose to work with China, and further threatened to end the distribution of natural gas through thePort of Sines if the construction of the new terminal were to be delivered to China.[10][11] Aneditorial inPúblico referred to the threat as adiktat and anultimatum;[12] Foreign MinisterAugusto Santos Silva reacted to these remarks by asserting that "in Portugal, the decision-makers are the Portuguese authorities, who decide which are Portugal's interests, within the framework of the Constitution and Portuguese law,"[13] and a similar message underscoring national autonomy was issued by PresidentMarcelo Rebelo de Sousa.[14]
In March 2020, he wrote an op-ed inPúblico about disinformation and theCOVID-19 pandemic, in which he accused China of launching a propaganda campaign to try and shift the responsibility of the pandemic to the United States.[15]
Glass and his wife, Mary, have also been active in supporting Portuguese communities recovering from wildfires and in reforestation. In October 2017, George and Mary visited communities affected bythe wildfires of that year in the district of Viseu. In October 2019, they founded the U.S-Portugal Friendship Forest near Leiria[16] and hosted the signing of a sister-park initiative betweenNorth Cascades National Park and the PortuguesePeneda-Gerês National Park.[17]
In September 2019, Glass had named the Ambassador's Residence in Lisbon after former Ambassador and Secretary of DefenseFrank Carlucci, who served as Ambassador to Portugal from 1975 to 1978.[18]
On November 14, 2019, Secretary of StateMike Pompeo presented Glass with theSue Cobb Award for Exemplary Diplomatic Service.[19]
Glass left his post on January 13, 2021.[20] Shortly before he left the post, he was awarded theOrder of Prince Henry the Navigator by PresidentMarcelo Rebelo de Sousa, during a ceremony atBelém Palace.[21][22]
Geroge Glass was nominated U.S. Ambassador to Japan by Donald Trump on December 17, 2024. Trump justifies the appointment by saying that Glass “will bring his business acumen to the Ambassador's position”. According toThe Japan Times, George Glass's only known connection with Japan was that his eldest son was living there in 2017.[23]
During his confirmation hearing before theSenate Foreign Relations Committee on March 13, 2025, George Glass explained that he was likely to press Japan to pay more for the presence of American military personnel on its soil. He also announced that his priority would be to strengthen ties between the two countries on defense issues, notably by co-producing military equipment. Glass also specified that he would work to reduce the US trade deficit with Japan.[24]
Grand Cross of theOrder of Prince Henry the Navigator,Portugal (December 18, 2020).[22]| Diplomatic posts | ||
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| Preceded by | United States Ambassador to Portugal 2017–2021 | Succeeded by Kristin M. Kane Chargé d’Affaires |
| Minister Plenipotentiary | |
|---|---|
| Chargé d'Affaires | |
| Minister Resident |
|
| Minister Resident/Consul General | |
| Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary | |
| Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary | |
