Berkley Center

Ken Hackett served as U.S. ambassador to the Holy See from 2013 until his retirement in January 2017. He previously was the president of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) from 2003 until his 2011 retirement, having served as CRS executive director since 1993. Hackett began his career at CRS in 1972, serving throughout Asia and Africa, and was a leader in the organization's response to the 1984-1985 Ethiopian famine and crisis in Somalia in the early 1990s. He has also served as North America president of Caritas Internationalis and as a board member of the Millennium Challenge Corporation from 2004 to 2009. In addition, Hackett has advised the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops on migration and international policy issues and was a member of the board of the Pontifical Commission Cor Unum. In 2004 he was honored with the title Knight Commander of the Papal Order of Saint Gregory the Great.