January 1, 1999 Amb. Kenneth Quinn
Ambassador Quinn’s mission was the only U.S. embassy in the world to receive this government-wide award on three consecutive occasions. As the lead political reporter and analyst, Ambassador Quinn predicted the efforts would be made to intimidate the U.S. Secretary of State and force the cancellation of her planned trip to Cambodia. The award also recognized the Ambassador’s plan of using rural roads and agricultural enhancements that led to the total eradication of the remaining 25,000 Khmer Rouge in the country. On March 6th, 1999, Ta Mok, the last remaining Khmer Rouge leader still free, was forced to return to Cambodia where he surrendered. Ambassador Quinn personally reported this information to the State Department Operation Center. It was the moment that completed the total eradication of the worst genocidal mass-murdering terrorist organization of the second half of the 20th century.