Stephen Patrick Newhouse

Stephen Patrick Newhouse, a retired foreign service officer, passed away suddenly at his home in Arlington, Virginia on October 24, 2021. He was 52 years old.

Stephen was born on February 9, 1969, in Evanston, Illinois, to Mary and James Newhouse. He earned his bachelor’s degree in government from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and his master’s degree in political science at the University of California, Los Angeles. Stephen joined the American Foreign Service in 1997. His 23-year diplomatic career focused on promoting American interests in multiple conflict environments, including Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan and spearheading international donor conferences for the reconstruction of Iraq, Afghanistan and Lebanon. While in Washington, D.C. Stephen was posted at the National Security Council at the White House as Director of the G8, at the State Department as Director of Economic Policy for East Asia and as Deputy Director of Egypt and Levant Affairs and at the United States Trade Representative as the Senior Advisor on Japan, Korea and APEC. His career included a teaching stint as an adjunct professor at the United States Coast Guard Academy, a sabbatical in Santa Barbara and service as the Regional Director of the Office of Foreign Missions in Los Angeles. As highlights of his career, in 2004, he helped to open the American Embassy in Baghdad in the former palace of Saddam Hussein, and in 2019, he served as the Senior Hostage Officer for Afghanistan and Pakistan, in the newly-created Office of Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, freeing Americans held illegitimately against their will.

Steve will be remembered for his vast knowledge, mastery of languages, humility, dry wit, lifelong dedication to civic engagement and sacrifice to his country.

Stephen is survived by his father, James Newhouse, his four children, Delaney, Kenyon, Leila and Aspen Newhouse, his brothers, Scott (Pam) and Gregory Newhouse, the mother of his children and former spouse, Melanie Newhouse, his beloved aunts, Eleanor and Patricia Nangle, and his many friends around the world.