Secretary of State Marco Rubio Wins First Wash100 Award for US Foreign Policy Leadership
Executive Mosaic is proud to announce the selection of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to the 2025 class of the Wash100 Award, a prestigious accolade given out annually to the 100 most influential and impactful members of the government and the government contracting industry in recognition of their achievements and in anticipation of future contributions.
Commenting on the award, Jim Garrettson, CEO of Executive Mosaic, said, “Secretary Rubio’s first Wash100 win comes as he takes on the pivotal role of leading the State Department. With global security dynamics shifting and the GovCon industry more international than ever, his leadership will play a key role in shaping U.S. foreign policy, strengthening alliances and opening new opportunities for industry.”
“As the secretary steps into this position, we’re watching closely to see how he navigates the challenges ahead and drives America’s strategic priorities on the world stage,” the founder of the Wash100 Award added.
Select Marco Rubio as your favorite 2025 Wash100 Award winner at Wash100.com! Voting closes on April 30, with the winner of the popular vote competition to be announced soon thereafter.
72nd Secretary of State
Rubio was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the country’s 72nd secretary of state this January by a vote of 99 to 0 following his nomination back in November 2024 by then President-Elect Donald Trump. The child of Cuban immigrants, Rubio is the first person of Hispanic origin to take charge as America’s top diplomat.
Earlier in his political career, Rubio served as a member of the Florida house of representatives from 2000 through 2009. He was later elected to the U.S. Senate in 2010 and was subsequently reelected twice, first in 2016 and again in 2022. He also sought to win the Republican presidential nomination in 2016.
Prioritizing Core National Interests
After his confirmation as secretary of state, Rubio announced that, as per the president’s instructions, he will work to ensure that U.S. foreign policy is guided by core national interests. Rubio explained in a press statement that every action the Department of State undertakes will have to be justified by answering three key questions: Does the action make America safer, does it make America stronger, and does it make America more prosperous?
In line with this framework, Rubio proposed the prioritization of key efforts like promoting U.S. energy dominance using diplomacy, combating enemy propaganda while supporting Americans’ rights to free speech, and implementing a pragmatic foreign policy while deemphasizing unpopular and divisive cultural and political causes.
Meritocracy, Efficiency and Productivity
The newly-appointed secretary of state also insisted on promoting meritocracy within his agency’s ranks, an issue that came up at his confirmation hearing, during which he also underscored the need to fill vacancies within the Department of State amid increasing diplomatic challenges around the world.
“We want to have people that are highly capable, both those who we bring from what they call political appointees, but also those that are promoted from within the Foreign Service. One of the things we can do to help expedite that is to bring you people that will do a good job, who are qualified for the job or mission-aligned, but also that can move through this process quickly enough so that they can be at post and begin to fulfill their duties,” Rubio had said.
During the hearing, Rubio also talked about the need to improve the agency’s efficiency through the infusion of technology, an effort that he praised former Secretary of State Antony Blinken for having started, resulting in the acceleration of processing times for visas and passports. In addition to improving customer experience for Americans, however, Rubio also sought to prioritize improving productivity by using technology to “get people at the State Department to achieve three times the amount of work than they do now, because it takes less time to do these tasks, or frees them up to do other tasks.”
Border Security, China and NATO
A key component of the State Department’s mission under Rubio’s leadership is, of course, U.S. border security.
“The State Department will no longer undertake any activities that facilitate or encourage mass migration. Our diplomatic relations with other countries, particularly in the Western Hemisphere, will prioritize securing America’s borders, stopping illegal and destabilizing migration, and negotiating the repatriation of illegal immigrants,” Rubio said in his post-confirmation statement.
Beyond the Western Hemisphere, of particular concern to Rubio is China, which, he said during his confirmation hearing, had an “unbalanced relationship” with the U.S. and now poses a threat to national prosperity. To correct the situation, Rubio called for changes in policy.
“If we don’t change course, we are going to live in the world where much of what matters to us on a daily basis from our security to our health will be dependent on whether the Chinese allow us to have it or not,” Rubio said.
Another consequential issue is the relationship between the U.S. and NATO. While Rubio described the organization as an important alliance, he also echoed Trump’s position that some members ought to contribute more to defense.
Strengthening the Country’s Position
Amid the foreign policy challenges faced by the U.S., the role of the secretary of state becomes more critical. Rubio brings to the position not only years of political leadership experience but also a commitment to the administration’s efforts to prioritize national interests even as the country seeks to work with international partners.
Rubio’s current and future contributions as secretary of state will assuredly help strengthen the country’s position in the international order and ensure U.S. prosperity via diplomacy in the years to come.
Congratulations to Marco Rubio and his team for this Wash100 Award. Don’t forget to vote for the newly-appointed secretary of state as your esteemed 2025 Wash100 awardee at Wash100.com!