William Garvelink, from Falls Church, Virginia, who led how US aid could go to persons displaced within their country’s borders, passed away this August 23 unexpectedly. Known to all as Bill, he studied Latin American history and dreamt of being a university professor before getting work at the Department of State in emergency response. As colleague Dr. Joe Barbera (Professor of George Washington) reflects, “He ended up creating history, not just teaching it. He pushed the bounds of humanitarian assistance in ways that were critically important.”
Historically, United States (US) aid to refugees who have crossed borders was managed by the U.S. Department of State where Garvelink worked before moving to USAID, where he pioneered new approaches to assistance to internally-displaced populations.
Garvelink often told the story of how, in 1988, the US Government was failing to assist NGOs working in the Sudan. Eventually, USAID’s Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) received the go-ahead to bypass diplomatic concerns from Deputy Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger who said “Don’t ask permission, just tell (Sudanese President) Bashir and the SPLM that you’re going to provide humanitarian assistance.” Garvelink recalled “We broke through war lines because people were starving. That was the only calculation that mattered. That changed everything,” recalled Garvelink. “That’s how humanitarian assistance has been provided ever since.”
In 2010, Garvelink became the first head of USAID’s $3.5 billion/year “Feed the Future” initiative, a new USAID flagship global food security and agriculture program. He brought to this job a background of leading U.S. disaster assistance teams in countries fighting food crises, Somalia, Rwanda, and beyond, as well as helping launch Operation Lifeline Sudan, a groundbreaking effort to deliver food across conflict lines. He said “Food security is not charity. It is the foundation of stability, dignity, and peace”.
Disaster field expert, Kate Farnsworth recalls: “Bill was a creative humanitarian and a supportive supervisor. He always saw possibilities for a principled humanitarian response, even in the midst of complex scenarios as in Sudan, Somalia, and Rwanda. While he was an expert in working the bureaucratic system in Washington and on the Hill, those of us in the field saw how he enjoyed being on the ground and we knew that when Bill arrived on the scene there would be a breakthrough in whatever challenge we were facing. With his tireless, engaging conversational, down-to-earth style, he endeared himself to donor colleagues, UN, NGOs, and ICRC workers, local communities, governments and “non-state” actors and in short order would develop a plan of action that everyone could buy in to. Even after he left fulltime work, we stayed in touch and I enjoyed reconnecting with him to review old experiences and discuss current humanitarian issues. His passing is the end of an era.”
Disaster shelter expert Chuck Setchell recalls: “Bill was my first supervisor when I began working at the OFDA in 1998. Behind his genteel demeanor was a sharp, probing mind, a sharp wit, and an intense desire to provide quality, effective assistance to the affected populations we were hoping to support. Bill asked a lot of questions, was open to new ideas, and took me to task a few times, but he never once failed to support my recommendations. He set the bar of leadership very high, and pushed me to be a better humanitarian, for which I’m eternally thankful.”
He led USG Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DARTs) in critical and often dangerous environments, providing life-saving assistance to communities devastated by conflict and natural calamities. In recognition of his extensive experience and leadership, Garvelink was appointed as the U.S. Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 2007 to 2010.
“I remember when I first joined OFDA in 1996, Bill, then OFDA Deputy Director, was encouraging and affirming, telling me that it was better to make a decision, even if wrong, then to not act,” recalls Emeritus World Hunger Education Service Chairperson, Peter Morris, adding, “He also told me not to be awed by position and rank in government, that in our work field experience was as important.”
Over his career, Garvelink received multiple USAID and State Department commendations, including a Presidential Meritorious Service Award. But those who worked alongside him often cited his field instincts and personal courage. Whether in Mogadishu, Kigali, or Kinshasa, he pressed the U.S. government to act decisively and compassionately, and he mentored a generation of younger humanitarian professionals who today carry forward his legacy.
Dina Esposito, who followed him as the head of USAID’s food security bureau credits Garvelink with her early formative experience, “and informed all that I did after.” In her view, “He helped set the rules of engagement for U.S. intervention in the post–Cold War era, from Kuwait to Somalia to Bosnia and beyond. With deep faith in humanity and unmatched skill in policymaking, strategy, and operations, he was a compelling voice for action. He drew together the brightest minds of his era and helped unlock U.S. leadership as a force for good, saving millions of lives in war torn countries and inspiring those of us privileged to work with him.”
A USAID colleague, Carol Peasely recalls “Bill was a delight to work with. I would call ‘Bill the Quiet and Effective American.’ He quietly led; was always a gentleman who listened to others; and was a great team player. That was not always easy to do within USAID where turf battles too often arose. Yet, Bill always had the uncanny ability to bring people together to solve problems and get the job done. His quiet and calm leadership and collegiality was a model to others and saved countless lives around the world.”
Patricia McIlreavy recalls an engagement with Garvelink: “He had a way of supporting people with both wisdom and humor. In early 1996, I was being interviewed by an NGO VP in Kigali for the Sudan country director role. Bill, who was visiting in-country on a DART rotation, strolled right up to our table, asked if we were done, and told the visiting VP he hoped she wouldn’t promote me because he wanted to bring me back to OFDA. With a grin, he added that I’d refused him up to that point, since I was holding out for the chance at this role. It was classic Bill: simultaneously strategic, protective and quietly encouraging. That moment, like so many others, showed how deeply he invested in people, not just programs.”
Peter Morris adds, “Bill was always open to new ideas to improve emergency response and was interested in creative thinking to do our work better. He had worked with Fred Cuny, Kate Farnsworth, Bob Gersony and Tim Knight in what I would call the ‘heady days’ of Humanitarian Assistance. Bill had a great memory and could tell great stories that were always personable. I will really miss him.”
After retirement, Garvelink became an advisor to the International Medical Corps, served on Boards, and became a regular lecturer in university courses, fulfilling his original dream. Dr. Barbera adds: “His post-retirement efforts in advising and mentoring young professionals interested in humanitarian careers has been inspirational. Bill Garvelink’s quiet humanitarian commitments changed the world. He will be deeply missed professionally and personally.”
A 400-page oral history of his career is currently being edited by the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training. More about his life can be found at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_J._Garvelink , and https://usaidalumni.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/William-John-Garvelink.pdf
