Peter F. Secchia

Peter F. Secchia, (born April 15, 1937 in Englewood, New Jersey) is an Italian-American diplomat and businessman. Secchia served as the United States Ambassador to Italy from 1989 to 1993.

Secchia served in the United States Marine Corps from 1956 to 1959 and graduated from Michigan State University in 1963 with a degree in economics.

Secchia is a fund-raiser in the Republican Party in Michigan. He started as chairman of the Kent County, Michigan Republican Committee and later became the chairman of the 5th Congressional District of Michigan committee. He was elected to be Michigan's Republican National Committeeman in 1980, 1984, and 1988. Secchia was a Vice Chairman of the Republican National Committee and headed its Midwest Region. He was host chairman of the 1985 RNC Midwest Leadership Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Secchia was on the national advisory committee of the 1988 George Bush for President Committee. Secchia also founded the Lake Michigan Conference, and was a National Co-Chair of the Dole for President Campaign.

From 1989 to 1993 Secchia served as the US Ambassador to Italy. He received the Cavaliere di Gran Croce (The Knight of the Great Cross). He also was awarded the Department of State Distinguished Honor Award during his service, an award given to serving ambassadors and to non-career ambassadors.

Secchia has served as the CEO and Chairman of the Board of Universal Forest Products, a company that manufactures engineered wood components and operates manufacturing plants and distribution centers in the United States (98), Mexico (2), and Canada (2). He has served as Chairman of the River City Food Company which has 29 restaurants, catering facilities, and banquet locations in the states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.

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