Background
Laingen, Lowell Bruce was born on August 6, 1922 in Odin Township, Minnesota, United States. Son of Palmer K. and Ida Mabel (Eng) Laingen.
Laingen, Lowell Bruce was born on August 6, 1922 in Odin Township, Minnesota, United States. Son of Palmer K. and Ida Mabel (Eng) Laingen.
Bachelor cum laude, St. Olaf College, 1947. Master of Arts in International Relations, University Minnesota, 1949. Doctor of Laws honoris causa, University Minnesota, 2005.
International relations officer State Department, 1949-1950. Joined United States Foreign Service, 1950. Vice consul Hamburg, Germany, 1951-1953.
3d secretary embassy Teheran, Iran, 1953-1954. Consul Meshed, Iran, 1954-1955. Assistant, then officer chargé Greek affairs State Department, 1956-1960.
2d secretary, then 1st secretary embassy Karachi, Pakistan, 1960-1964. With Pakistan/Afghanistan affairs bureau State Department, 1964-1967. Assigned National War College, 1967-1968.
Deputy chief mission to Afghanistan Kabul, 1968-1971. Country director Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, State Department, 1971-1973, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, 1973-1974, acting deputy assistant secretary state for Near Eastern and South Asian affairs, 1974-1975, deputy assistant secretary state for European affairs, 1975-1976. Ambassador to Malta, 1977-1979.
Chargé d'affaires American Embassy, Teheran, Iran, 1979. Held hostage by Iranian student militants, 1979-1981. Vice president National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington, 1981-1986.
Executive director National Commission Public Service, Washington, 1987-1990. Lecturer Security Overseas Seminar, Foreign Service Institute, 1995-2000. Sol Linowitz chair in international relations Hamilton College, 1998.
Ex officio member 2nd National Commission Public Service, 2002-2004.
Member of American Academy Diplomacy (ex officio 2006, board directors since 2007, president 1991—2006).
Married Penelope Babcock, June 1, 1957. Children: William Bruce, Charles Winslow, James Palmer.