We are saddened to announce the passing of Brigadier General Amos A. “Joe” Jordan, Jr. on June 7, 2018, at the age of 96. General Jordan was a pillar of expertise and leadership for the Wheatley Institute in its early years. His extensive service in the government, military and academic world and his influence and recommendations allowed the Institution to feature highly sought after speakers at BYU. From his youth as a boxing champion to his young adult years at West Point to his outstanding accomplishments as an adult, he leaves behind a legacy of personal integrity and character.
Amos Jordan served as president of the Pacific Forum CSIS from 1990 to 1994 and as president and CEO of CSIS from 1983 to 1988. Before this time, the relationship between foreign policy and Congress was somewhat unclear. However, major developments were made regarding their combined role during his tenure at CSIS. Dr. Jordan has held the positions of Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, Deputy under Secretary of State, and acting under Secretary of State for Security Assistance. A former U.S. Army brigadier general and a West Point department head, Jordan also served as a member of President Bush's Intelligence Oversight Board. He was a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy and of Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar.
He earned a doctorate in international affairs from Columbia University. He was also the lead author of American National Security, a textbook on foreign affairs that went into its 6 edition in 2009 and has long been considered the standard text on the subject. During his time in Washington D.C., Jordan was a close associate of Henry Kissinger. Jordan exemplified the highly intelligent and decisive people that Kissinger brought into the foreign policy world. Those who knew him personally, like Fred A. Axelgard, a friend and associate of Jordan, knew him as someone who “didn’t suffer fools, likely including people of high rank who let pride get in the way.” Jordan was also particularly interested in foreign policy in China and India and was very effective in managing these relationships both diplomatically and militarily. At one point, he was offered the ambassadorship of India but turned it down because his wife had almost died twice from illness when they had previously lived there. He was committed to his work, but his family and his faith took precedence. He juggled major leadership roles in the LDS Church while he simultaneously served as president of CSIS.
Jordan believed in America’s role in the world and he pictured America’s role as a leader, not just in terms of economic and military strength but also in terms of moral leadership. He believed “both policy and individuals needed to reflect the highest moral integrity and interest of the nation.” He lived his life after this manner. He will be greatly missed by the Wheatley Institution.