WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 15, 2026) – Amb. Cindy McCain will return to the McCain Institute at Arizona State University’s Board of Trustees as co-chairman after a unanimous vote from the board.
Amb. McCain previously stepped down as board chair following her appointment as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture in 2021. Amb. McCain subsequently served as Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme from 2023 until June 2026, when she returned to Arizona. Amb. McCain will serve alongside current board chair Rick Davis and will provide leadership and counsel in advancing the McCain Institute’s mission, programs, and long-term strategic direction. She was also voted to chair the future board for the John McCain Library.
“It is both a profound honor and a deeply personal privilege to continue guiding the McCain Institute and carrying forward John’s extraordinary legacy,” said Amb. McCain. “John believed deeply in the power of courageous leadership, service to others, and standing up for those who cannot stand up for themselves. I am incredibly proud of the work we are doing to bring those values to life, and even more excited about what lies ahead. I look forward to deepening my involvement in our mission to inspire the next generation of principled leaders, strengthen American leadership around the world, combat human trafficking, and protect the dignity and freedom of the world’s most vulnerable people. There is no more meaningful way to honor John than to ensure that the values he lived by continue to inspire action and make a difference for generations to come.”
View the full text of the board’s resolution below:
RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE McCAIN INSTITUTE
Appointment of Cindy McCain as Co-Chair of the Board of Trustees
WHEREAS, the McCain Institute was founded to advance the values and legacy of Senator John McCain, including his commitment to character-driven leadership, service to a cause greater than oneself, democratic institutions, human dignity, and American leadership in the world;
WHEREAS, Cindy McCain has been an indispensable leader, advocate, and ambassador for those values and for the work of the McCain Institute since its founding;
WHEREAS, Mrs. McCain has devoted decades of public service to humanitarian causes, human rights, combating human trafficking, food security, and the advancement of vulnerable communities around the world, including through her leadership as Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme;
WHEREAS, the Board believes that Mrs. McCain’s experience, leadership, and unique connection to Senator McCain’s life and legacy will strengthen the Institute as it enters its next chapter and will help ensure that its mission remains firmly rooted in the principles upon which it was founded;
WHEREAS, the John McCain Library is envisioned not simply as a memorial to Senator McCain or a repository of his history, but as a living, forward-looking institution that will bring his values to bear on the challenges of the future, educate and inspire new generations of leaders, encourage principled public service, and provide a place where Americans and leaders from around the world can engage with the enduring ideals of courage, character, freedom, democracy, and service to a cause greater than oneself;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of the McCain Institute hereby appoints Cindy McCain as Co-Chair of the Board of Trustees of the McCain Institute, to serve alongside the Chair and to provide leadership and counsel in advancing the Institute’s mission, programs, and long-term strategic direction;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board hereby appoints Cindy McCain as Chair of the John McCain Library, with responsibility for providing leadership and guidance in the development of the library, its mission, programming, public engagement, and efforts to preserve and advance Senator McCain’s legacy;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that under Mrs. McCain’s leadership, the John McCain Library shall seek not only to preserve the history and legacy of Senator McCain, but to put that legacy to work—developing leaders, encouraging civil and courageous public discourse, strengthening democratic values, and inspiring future generations to embrace the responsibilities of citizenship and service;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that in these roles Mrs. McCain will help strengthen the connection between the McCain Institute and the John McCain Library and ensure that together they serve as enduring institutions dedicated not simply to remembering Senator McCain’s life, but to carrying forward the values for which he stood and applying them to the challenges of a changing world;
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Board expresses its deep appreciation to Cindy McCain for her continued service and leadership and looks forward to working with her in these expanded roles.
ADOPTED by the Board of Trustees of the McCain Institute on the 7th day of October 2026.
To view Amb. McCain’s full bio, click HERE.
About the McCain Library and Museum
ASU and the McCain family announced the creation of the McCain Library and Museum in 2023. ASU has dedicated a 22.5-acre portion of the Tempe campus for the project, near Papago Park, and construction began in January 2026. The McCain Library and Museum will illuminate Senator John McCain’s commitment to public service, a legacy that continues to challenge us to cherish integrity and serve with courage and conviction. More than a facility, the library will be a living institution cultivating future generations of leaders prepared to boldly take on the great issues of their time.
About the McCain Institute at Arizona State University
The McCain Institute is a nonpartisan organization inspired by Senator John McCain and his family’s dedication to public service. We are part of Arizona State University and based in Washington, D.C. Our programs defend democracy, advance human rights and freedom, and empower character-driven leaders. Our unique power to convene leaders across the global political spectrum enables us to make a real impact on the world’s most pressing challenges. Our goal is action, not talk, and like Senator McCain, we are fighting to create a free, safe, and just world for all.
About Arizona State University
Arizona State University has developed a new model for the American research university, creating an institution that is committed to access, excellence and impact. ASU measures itself by those it includes, not by those it excludes. As the prototype for a New American University, ASU pursues research that contributes to the public good, and ASU assumes major responsibility for the economic, social and cultural vitality of the communities that surround it.