These awards are designed to spotlight the inspired leadership our complex world requires. While at the same time representing essential pillars of the transatlantic relationship: political, business, arts, and humanitarian leadership.

Brent Scowcroft, Atlantic Council interim chairman

2024 Honorees

H.E. Klaus Warner Iohannis – Distinguished International Leadership Award
The Hon. Gina M. Raimondo – Distinguished International Leadership Award
General Christopher G. Cavoli – Distinguished Military Leadership Award
Michelle Yeoh – Distinguished Artistic Leadership Award

2023 Honorees

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala – Distinguished International Leadership Award
The Hon. Avril Haines – Distinguished International Leadership Award
Adena T. Friedman – Distinguished Business Leadership Award
Gen. Laura J. Richardson – Distinguished Military Leadership Award
The Women and Girls of Iran – Distinguished Humanitarian Leadership Award
Accepted by:
Dr. Mahnaz Afkhami
Dr. Mehrangiz Kar
Azam Jangravi
Nazanin Nour

2022 Honorees

H.E. Mario Draghi – Distinguished International Leadership Award
Claudio Descalzi – Distinguished Business Leadership Award
Jamala – Distinguished Artistic Leadership Award
The People of Ukraine – Distinguished Leadership Award

2021 Honorees

H.E. Ursula von der Leyen – Distinguished International Leadership Award
Albert Bourla, DVM, PH.D. – Distinguished Business Leadership Award
Professor Uğur Şahin, M.D. – Distinguished Business Leadership Award
Özlem Türeci – Distinguished Business Leadership Award
Dua Lipa – Distinguished Artistic Leadership Award

2020 Honorees

Kristalina Georgieva – Distinguished International Leadership Award
H.E. Luis Alberto Moreno – Distinguished International Leadership Award
Lionel Richie – Distinguished Artistic Leadership Award

2019 Honorees

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) – Distinguished International Leadership Award
Christine Lagarde – Distinguished International Leadership Award
Frederick W. Smith – Distinguished Business Leadership Award
Adrienne Arsht – Distinguished Service Award

2018 Honorees

President George W. Bush – Distinguished International Leadership Award
Howard Schultz – Distinguished Business Leadership Award
General Curtis M. Scaparrotti – Distinguished Military Leadership Award
Gloria Estefan – Distinguished Artistic Leadership Award

2017 Honorees

H.E. Jens Stoltenberg – Distinguished International Leadership Award
William Clay Ford Jr. – Distinguished Business Leadership Award
Michelle Howard – Distinguished Military Leadership Award
Renée Fleming – Distinguished Artistic Leadership Award
HRH Princess Haya bint Hussein – Distinguished Humanitarian Leadership Award

2016 Honorees

Dr. Robert Gates – Distinguished International Leadership Award
Henry Kravis – Distinguished Business Leadership Award
General Joseph L. Votel – Distinguished Military Leadership Award
Vittorio Grigolo – Distinguished Artistic Leadership Award

2015 Honorees

H.E. Ashraf Ghani – Distinguished International Leadership Award
Marillyn A. Hewson – Distinguished Business Leadership Award
General Philip M. Breedlove – Distinguished Military Leadership Award
Toby Keith – Distinguished Artistic Leadership Award

2014 Honorees

President José Manuel Barroso – Distinguished International Leadership Award
Secretary Charles T. Hagel – Distinguished International Leadership Award
Dr. Thomas Enders – Distinguished Business Leadership Award
General Joseph F. Dunford, Jr. – Distinguished Military Leadership Award
Ruslana Lyzhychko – Distinguished Humanitarian Leadership Award

2013 Honorees

Secretary Hillary Clinton – Distinguished International Leadership Award
Anders Fogh Rasmussen – Distinguished International Leadership Award
John S. Watson – Distinguished Business Leadership Award
Tony Bennett – Distinguished Artistic Leadership Award
Juanes – Distinguished Humanitarian Leadership Award

2012 Honorees

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon – Distinguished International Leadership Award
Paul Polman – Distinguished Business Leadership Award
The Enlisted Men and Women of the United States Armed Forces – Distinguished Military Leadership Award
Anne-Sophie Mutter – Distinguished Artistic Leadership Award
H.R.H. Prince Henry of Wales – Distinguished Humanitarian Leadership Award

2011 Honorees

Vice President Joe Biden – Distinguished International Leadership
Admiral James G. Stavridis – Distinguished Military Leadership Award
Muhtar Kent – Distinguished Business Leadership Award
Placido Domingo – Distinguished Artistic Leadership Award

2010 Honorees

President William J. Clinton – Distinguished International Leadership Award
Dr. Josef Ackermann – Distinguished Business Leadership Award
General Stéphane Abrial – Distinguished Military Leadership Award
General James Mattis – Distinguished Military Leadership Award
Bono – Humanitarian Leadership Award

2009 Honorees

President George H. W. Bush – Distinguished International Leadership Award
Chancellor Helmut Kohl – Distinguished International Leadership Award
Samuel Palmisano – Distinguished Business Leadership Award
General David Petraeus – Distinguished Military Leadership Award
Thomas Hampson – Distinguished Artistic Leadership Award

2008 Honorees

Prime Minister Tony Blair – Distinguished International Leadership Award
Rupert Murdoch – Distinguished Business Leadership Award
Admiral Michael Mullen – Distinguished Military Leadership Award
Evgeny Kissin – Distinguished Artistic Leadership Award

2007 Honorees

Dr. Alan Greenspan – Distinguished International Leadership Award
Stephen A. Schwarzman – Distinguished Business Leadership Award
General James L. Jones Jr. – Distinguished Military Leadership Award

2006 Honoree

Senator John Warner – Distinguished International Leadership Award

2005 Honoree

General Colin Powell – Distinguished International Leadership Award

2004 Honoree

Senator Chuck Hagel – Distinguished International Leadership Award

2003 Honorees

General Joseph Ralston – Distinguished International Leadership Award
Lord George Robertson of Port Ellen – Distinguished International Leadership Award

2002 Honoree

Robert Rubin – Distinguished International Leadership Award

2001 Honoree

Dr. Henry Kissinger – Distinguished International Leadership Award

2000 Honoree

General Brent Scowcroft – Distinguished International Leadership Award

1999 Honoree

Paul Volcker – Outstanding Contribution to National Policy

1998 Honoree

Norman Augustine – Outstanding Contribution to National Security

1996 Honoree

Senator Sam Nunn – Outstanding Contribution to National Security