AIAC CONVEYS CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF DR. JOSEPH S. NYE
For Immediate Release
New York, NY - May 7, 2025 Dr. Joseph S. Nye, Jr., Harvard University Distinguished Service Professor, Emeritus, and former Dean of the John F. Kennedy School of Government, passed away on May 6, 2025, at the age of 88. A towering figure in international relations theory and American foreign policy, Dr. Nye's career spanned more than six decades. Born in 1937, he received his bachelor's degree from Princeton University, studied at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, and earned his Ph.D. from Harvard University.
Dr. Nye's government service included roles as Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, Chairman of the National Intelligence Council, and Deputy Under Secretary of State for Security Assistance, Science, and Technology under two presidential administrations. He served as Dean of the Harvard Kennedy School from 1995 to 2004, transforming the institution into a premier training ground for public servants worldwide.
His pioneering concept of "soft power"—the ability to shape others' preferences through attraction rather than coercion—fundamentally reshaped international relations theory and diplomatic practice. His numerous books, including "Bound to Lead," "The Paradox of American Power," and "The Future of Power," are considered seminal texts in the field.
Among his many honors, Dr. Nye was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal by the U.S. Department of State, the Distinguished Public Service Medal by the Department of Defense, and Japan's Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star. He was a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Academy of Diplomacy, and the British Academy.
L. M. Levie, Chairman of American Industrial Acquisition Corporation (AIAC), issued the following statement today upon learning of Dr. Nye's passing:
"I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Joseph S. Nye, Jr. Having served with Joe on the Trilateral Commission, I witnessed the extraordinary intellect and diplomatic wisdom that made him one of America's most consequential foreign policy thinkers.
During our Commission deliberations, Joe consistently illuminated complex global challenges with remarkable clarity. His concept of 'soft power' revolutionized how we understand international influence, demonstrating that America's greatest strength lies not only in its military might but in its values, culture, and ability to build coalitions.
I particularly recall Joe's prescient comments and insights during a recent Board of Directors and Faculty luncheon I was privileged to attend at Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International on September 9, 2025, and during his interview with Judy Woodruff at the Trilateral Commission Global Plenary last month in Washington.
Joe's distinguished government service under multiple administrations demonstrated his rare ability to translate scholarly expertise into effective policy. As Assistant Secretary of Defense, his steady guidance helped navigate the post-Cold War security landscape. His leadership of the National Intelligence Council brought analytical rigor to America's most critical strategic assessments.
On behalf of American Industrial Acquisition Corporation and our affiliated companies, I extend our deepest condolences to the Nye family during this difficult time. The world has lost a brilliant mind and compassionate leader whose impact on global affairs will be felt for decades to come."
AIAC Chairman L. M. Levie is a member of the Trilateral Commission, Peacekeeper of the Carter Center, a Member of the Philanthropists for Peace of the International Crisis Group, and a Patron of the Appeal of the Nobel Peace Laureates Foundation Inc.
AIAC Chairman Levie composed the following elegy which he presented to Harvard University President Alan Gerber and to Belfer Center for Science and Technology Director and Trilateral Commission North America Group Chair Meghan L. O’Sullivan:
In response, Dr. Garber, President of Harvard University, wrote to Mr. Levie: “Thank you for writing with your condolences and for sending this thoughtful elegy. The Harvard community will miss Joseph Nye. He embodied the highest ideals of the University, profoundly shaping the Kennedy School, enriching the lives of countless students and faculty, and leaving a meaningful legacy on the global stage.”
For further information, please see:
https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2025/5/8/joseph-nye-dies/
https://www.hks.harvard.edu/faculty/joseph-nye
About Joseph S. Nye, Jr.
Joseph Samuel Nye Jr., was a preeminent political scientist whose concept of "soft power" transformed understanding of modern international relations. Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Nye developed influential theories that helped explain how nations could exert influence beyond traditional military and economic might. His 1990 book "Bound to Lead" introduced the concept of "soft power"—the ability to shape others' preferences through attraction rather than coercion—which became a cornerstone of diplomatic strategy and foreign policy discourse.
Born in South Orange, New Jersey, Dr. Nye graduated from Princeton University before earning his Ph.D. from Harvard. His academic work was complemented by significant public service, including positions as Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs in the Clinton administration and Chair of the National Intelligence Council.
As a scholar-practitioner, Dr. Nye brought theoretical rigor to practical diplomacy challenges. His analytical frameworks provided generations of students, scholars, and policymakers with tools to navigate complex geopolitical landscapes.
Dr. Nye authored more than a dozen books, including "The Paradox of American Power" and "The Future of Power," establishing himself as one of the most cited political scientists of his generation.
He is survived by his wife, Molly Harding Nye; three children; and five grandchildren.
For further information, please see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Nye
About American Industrial Acquisition Corporation
American Industrial Acquisition Corporation (AIAC) is a diversified industrial group with manufacturing and distribution sites in 24 countries in North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia-New Zealand. AIAC has acquired and grown non-core subsidiaries and divisions of Boeing, Siemens, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Johnson Controls, Merck, Pfizer, Astellas, Visteon, Carlyle, Ahlstrom, Tolko, Groupe Suez, Groupe Rexel, and many other leading multinational corporations.
AIAC companies serve companies and governmental entities worldwide in all major sectors, including aviation, space, defense, automotive, truck, rail, marine, petrochemical, solar, nuclear, food, confectionary, beverage, civil engineering and infrastructure, commercial construction, mining, dredging, disaster relief, education, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals. In addition, AIAC companies are exclusive, authorized distributors of leading branded industrial and consumer products and serve as critical suppliers for the construction of major airports, schools, hospitals, performing arts and sports centers, offices and hotels throughout Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. AIAC is a leading manufacturer of building, street, and highway signage in Europe, signage and illumination structures in North America, and a distributor of electrical products throughout France.
Of note, AIAC purchased Boeing Canada in 2005 and has produced over 10,000 unique components for every Boeing jet plane ever since, reliably serving Boeing from manufacturing facilities in North America. A leader in ultra-high precision jet engine component manufacturing, AIAC companies produce 2,200 fan blades for each jet engine produced by GE, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls Royce, and Honeywell.
AIAC companies actively support exploration into outer space, manufacturing critical components for launching and propelling spacecraft and satellites. AIAC customers in this sector include NASA, the European Space Agency, SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Boeing. AIAC companies also lead in the design and manufacture of undersea umbilical cables for worldwide oceanographic research.
AIAC companies produce the critical automotive wire and cable for Tesla, GM, Ford, Chrysler-Fiat, Toyota, and Nissan. In connection with its kraft paper manufacturing interests in Canada and the US, AIAC controls and sustainably manages 22 million acres of Manitoba, Canada forestland, an area equivalent in size to the nation of Hungary. AIAC affiliate, Metallwarenfabrik Gemmingen GmbH, located in Germany, designs, manufactures and distributes high performance, emergency portable power generators utilized in global conflict zones and during natural disasters.
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About AIAC Philanthropy
AIAC and the AIAC Foundation support a wide range of nonprofit, nonsectarian, bipartisan organizations which promote international conflict resolution, disaster relief, economic development, environmental sustainability, exploration, and the performing arts. The exploration-focused nonprofit organizations which they actively support include the National Geographic Society, the Royal Geographical Society, the American Museum of Natural History and the Hayden Planetarium, the Victoria & Albert Museum, the National Air and Space Museum, the National Space Society, and the United States Space Foundation.
L. M. Levie, Chairman of AIAC, is a Member of the Trilateral Commission, the Bretton Woods Committee, the Council on Foreign Relations Legacy Society, the Yale CEO Summit, the Chairman’s Legacy Society of the Atlantic Council, the Patrons Circle of the Japan Society, and the Centennial Society and Legacy Society of the Economic Club of New York. He serves as a Trustee of the Explorers Club and a Fellow of the Asia Society, of the Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce, and of the Royal Geographical Society.
AIAC’s other beneficiaries include the Appeal of the Nobel Peace Laureates Foundation Inc., the Asia Society, the Atlantic Council, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation - Gates Philanthropy Partners, the Bretton Woods Committee, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the Carter Center, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Economic Club of New York, the Foreign Policy Association, the Institut Française des Relations Internationales, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Crisis Group, the International Rescue Committee, the Japan Society, the JFK School of Government of Harvard University, the Peterson Institute for International Economics, the Richardson Center for Global Engagement, the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House), and the Sierra Club.
For further information, please see:
Media Contact:
Isabel Carro-Toro, Vice President
American Industrial Acquisition Corporation
+34 689 295 827 (Spain)
+ 1 787 244 3175 (USA)
icarro-toro@aiac.com