American Ambassadors Live! with U.S. Department of State Spokesperson Tommy Pigott
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In this episode of American Ambassadors Live!, we are joined by U.S. Department of State Spokesperson Tommy Pigott. Episode host and Council of American Ambassadors' President, Ambassador G. Philip Hughes, explores the "how" and "why" behind today's diplomatic headlines. This fascinating conversation offers viewers and listeners a behind-the-scenes look at political communications and their broader implications on both domestic and international affairs.
This podcast was recorded on Wednesday, June 10, 2026.
About the Speakers
Tommy Pigott is the Spokesperson for the Department of State. He joined the Department and the Trump-Vance administration in January 2025. Previously, Tommy worked as Strategic Communications Director at the Republican National Committee and has almost a decade of communications experience. Hailing from New Jersey, Pigott earned a bachelor’s degree from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and a master’s degree from the George Washington University’s School of Media & Public Affairs.
Ambassador G. Philip Hughes served as the US Ambassador to Barbados, Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines from November 1990 until July 1993. Prior to this ambassadorial appointment, Ambassador Hughes served as Executive Secretary of the National Security Council in the White House during 1989 and 1990.
His previous Executive Branch public service included appointments as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement (1988-1989), Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Politico-Military Affairs (1986-1988), Director for Latin American Affairs on the National Security Council staff (1985-1986), Deputy Assistant to the Vice President for National Security Affairs (1981-1985), and Assistant Director for Intelligence Policy in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (1979-1981). Ambassador Hughes held the position of Research Fellow at the Brookings Institution, Washington, DC in 1978-1979 and began his career as an Assistant Analyst in the National Security and International Affairs Division of the Congressional Budget Office (1975-1977). Since retiring in 2020 after 20 years as Senior Director of the White House Writers Group, Ambassador Hughes remains Adjunct Professor of Diplomacy at the Institute of World Politics in Washington, D.C., where he has taught for the last decade, and Chairman Emeritus of the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training on the campus of the State Department’s Foreign Service Institute.
He holds a B.A. degree in Political Science from the University of Dayton (1972), an M.A. in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University (1974 and 1975), and an M.P.A. degree from the JFK School of Government, Harvard University (1978). He has attended courses at the London School of Economics (1973) and the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna (1974).
Ambassador Hughes was awarded the Secretary of Defense's Medal for Distinguished Public Service in 1985, the George Washington Patriot Award of the Sons of the American Revolution of the State of New York in 2009; and the Puentes de las Americas Award of the Centro de Estudios Americanos of Buenos Aires in 2018. Ambassador Hughes was born in Dayton, Ohio and is married to Victoria A. Knipper Hughes.
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