Paul Ignatius, the highest-ranking Armenian-American public official in US history, passes away at 104

Paul Ignatius holds the distinction of being the highest-ranking Armenian-American to ever serve in the U.S. government. He was Secretary of the Navy and Deputy Secretary of Defense during the Vietnam War. In 2019, one of the U.S. Navy’s most modern missile destroyers was named in his honor, a rare tribute reflecting his decades of service.

After completing his military career, Ignatius became president of The Washington Post, one of the most influential media institutions in the United States. He later led the Air Transport Association of America for 15 years.

AGBU honored the late statesman, writing:

“Paul R. Ignatius’s life is a shining example of duty, honor, and service to his country. After living for more than a century, he passed away just one week shy of his 105th birthday.”

Ignatius’s connection with AGBU was personal and deeply rooted. His grandfather, Avetis Zhamkochian, founded AGBU’s first chapter in England, in Manchester.

“His life was a testament to integrity, service, and the timeless values of his Armenian-American identity. He respected his national heritage and used his talents for the good of his homeland. Paul Ignatius’s legacy inspires generations who aspire to public service. The AGBU Central Board mourns the loss of this outstanding figure in Armenian-American history,” the organization said in its condolence statement.

Before beginning his naval career, Ignatius appeared in small roles in several films by Armenian-American director Rouben Mamoulian. In his book, he humorously recalls how Mamoulian repeatedly made him reshoot scenes until they met his exacting standards.

His son, David Ignatius, describes how the family would gather around the television to watch those brief appearances:

“My father had a small scene in which he walks through a cowboy town and says one line: ‘Fifty dollars.’ But it was a huge event for us, we waited for that moment every time.”

A Harvard University graduate, Paul Ignatius moved in the same circles as notable Armenian artists and intellectuals, among them William Saroyan, Michael Arlen, Rouben Mamoulian, Zabel Boyajian, Aram Saroyan, and Peter Balakian. He had four children, two daughters and two sons. David and Adi became journalists; Sarah and Amy pursued careers in law.

Ignatius’s children closely followed the publication process of Newmag’s Armenian edition of Now I Know in Part, eagerly awaiting the book dedicated to them. The foreword was entrusted to the four siblings.

At the book’s Armenian launch event, the family was represented by the eldest son, David Ignatius, the renowned Washington Post columnist. Speaking at the presentation, he noted that Armenians know his father primarily as Secretary of the Navy and the highest-ranking Armenian-American official, but the book reveals more:

“What I know, readers will discover too: he was an artist in the broadest sense. He had an exceptional talent for words and expression, with which he described not only his own life, but the people, places, and era around him.”

Now I Know in Part opens a window into the history of the distinguished Ignatius family. It tells the story of an era, its military and political life, and the experience of Armenian-Americans. Through its pages, readers learn how earlier generations of Armenians lived in the United States: how they spoke, how they adapted, and how they carried the weight of memory and the legacy of genocide, sometimes through words, and sometimes through silence.