President, IFES

Richard W. Soudriette has served as President of IFES, (formerly known as The International Foundation for Election Systems) since 1988. Under Mr. Soudriette’s leadership, IFES has grown into one of the premier organizations offering technical assistance in the areas of elections, civil society, rule of law and governance. He has played a key role in launching networks of elections officials in Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia and has overseen the tremendous growth of IFES, which has worked in over 120 countries around the world.

Prior to joining IFES, Mr. Soudriette served as Chief of Staff for U.S. Congressman James M. Inhofe (R-OK), Director of the U.S. Peace Corps in Paraguay and the Dominican Republic, and Chief of Staff for the Mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is currently a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the American Political Science Association and the International Association of Clerks, Recorders, Treasurers and Election Officials (IACREOT). Mr. Soudriette is a graduate of the University of Tulsa with a B.A. in Political Science and Masters of Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma.