George Glass was the Founder, President, and Vice Chairman of Pacific Crest Securities, from 1990 to 2014. After Pacific Crest Securities was purchased by Key Bank, he founded the real estate development firm MGG Development LCC. Glass has also served as a trustee for the Oregon Health Sciences University and for the University of Oregon.
Ambassador to Portugal
In 2017, George Glass was nominated by President Donald Trump to become Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Portugal. The United States Senate confirmed his nomination on August 3, 2017. He presented to credentials to the President of the Portuguese Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, on August 25, 2017. During his tenure as Ambassador, Glass has sought to increase economic activity between the United States and Portugal, including on agricultural and energy issues. He has also been vocal in warning about Chinese investments in strategic sectors in Portugal. He has raised concerns over a proposed takeover by China Three Gorges of the Portuguese energy company EDP. He has also been outspoken about U.S. concerns about the role Huawei might play in future 5G networks in Portugal and elsewhere. In March 2020, he wrote an op-ed about disinformation and the COVID19 epidemic. Glass and his wife, Mary, have also been active in supporting Portuguese communities recovering from wildfires and in reforestation. In October 2017, George and Mary visited communities affected by wildfires from that year in the district of Viseu. In October of 2019, they founded the U.S-Portugal Friendship Forest near Leiria and hosted the signing of a sister-park initiative between North Cascades National Park and the Portuguese National Park of Peneda-Geres. In September 2019, Glass had named the Ambassador’s Residence in Lisbon after former Ambassador and Secretary of Defense Frank Carlucci, who served as Ambassador to Portugal from 1975 to 1978. On November 14, 2019, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo presented Glass with the Sue Cobb Award for Exemplary Diplomatic Service.
Personal life
Glass is a registered Republican. He is married to Mary Ferguson Glass and has three adult sons. He and his wife are practicing Catholics.
Awards
2004: University of Oregon Outstanding Young Alumni Award 2018: New York Portuguese American Leadership Council of the United States Presidential Award for Distinguished Service 2019: The U.S. State Department Sue M. Cobb Award for Exemplary Diplomatic Service. The honor is awarded annually to the individual selected from worldwide nominations as the most outstanding non-career United States Ambassador who has used private sector leadership and management skills to make a significant impact on bilateral or multilateral relations and has done so in a manner that best reflects the foreign service culture of uncommon commitment in carrying out United States foreign policy through proactive diplomacy. 2019: Portuguese Minister of the Sea Blue Tech Pioneer Award 2019: Knighted, Cancelario, the Confraria do Vinho do Porto
