Remembering Ambassador Richard L. Armitage

Introducing the Richard L. Armitage Fellowship

The late Ambassador Richard L. Armitage, the 13th U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, dedicated his life to public service. One of the most noteworthy characteristics of his service that spans several decades was his deep commitment to the U.S.-Japan alliance as the cornerstone of peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. To honor Ambassador Armitage’s legacy, the Honorable Randall G. Schriver, Institute for Indo-Pacific Security (IIPS) Chairman and one of Ambassador Armitage’s most prominent mentees, decided to launch an exchange program between aspiring policy professionals in the United States and Japan.

Program Overview

The Richard L. Armitage (RLA) Fellowship Program, starting in October 2026, offers a U.S. fellow the opportunity to spend six months studying U.S.-Japan relations with IIPS and a Japanese think tank. This program provides fellows with the opportunity to gain cross-cultural understanding between the United States and Japan through professional exchange and collaborative research; grow comparative insights into public policy formulation, research methodologies, and civic innovation; and establish an international network of globally minded, policy-oriented leaders and experts in U.S.-Japan relations. 

Logistics/Activities

The fellow will first join the IIPS research team in Washington, D.C. for three months, followed by a three-month immersive program in Japan. The program will conclude with a final event at IIPS, during which the fellow will present their research and experiences as an RLA Fellow.

Throughout the program, the fellow will contribute to IIPS research projects, attend policy events, and collaborate with experts on timely topics such as climate policy, digital governance, economic strategy, or urban development. IIPS will provide the fellow with networking opportunities in DC and Tokyo and support the Fellow’s personal and professional growth through structured mentorship and regular check-ins with research supervisors. The fellow will be supported with a monthly living stipend and round-trip travel and visa expenses. 

The fellow will produce a final research paper analyzing a key policy issue of their interest affecting the U.S.-Japan alliance. This paper will be published with IIPS, and the fellow will present the paper and discuss their RLA experience at a public event in the United States and Japan.

Learn more and apply here.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2026, AT 11:59 P.M. ET