Luke Coffey, a 2002 UMSL political science graduate, now serves as a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, where he provides research and analysis on national security and foreign policy. (Photo by Erin Granzow)
University of Missouri–St. Louis alum Luke Coffey recently received the Order of Merit, III award from Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky in recognition of his work to strengthen international cooperation and support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
Coffey, who earned his bachelor’s degree in political science at UMSL in 2002, now serves as a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, a nonpartisan think tank, where he provides research and analysis on national security and foreign policy with a focus on Europe, Eurasia, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and transatlantic relations.
He has been a strong advocate in support of Ukraine, beginning even before Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his invasion into the country in the winter of 2022.
“Receiving this award from President Zelenskyy is one of the greatest honors of my life,” Coffey said in the news release from the Hudson Institute. “As Ukraine celebrates 33 years of independence, our fight to maintain its sovereignty has never been more critical so that future generations of Ukrainians can inherit a peaceful, prosperous, and unified Ukraine.”
Coffey previously served as the director of the Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy at The Heritage Foundation. He moved to the Hudson Institute in the summer of 2022.
His interest in global affairs began much earlier and was cultivated during his time at UMSL. He went on to serve as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army after graduation and was stationed in Italy. He did a tour as a U.S. Army captain doing detainee operations in Afghanistan in 2005, earning the Bronze Star.
After leaving the military, Coffey enrolled at the London School of Economics to pursue a master’s degree in politics and government of the European Union.
He landed a job working for Liam Fox during Fox’s tenure as a member of Parliament. Fox later ascended to secretary of state for defense when the Conservative Party won control of Parliament in 2010, and Coffey became a senior special adviser, the first non-U.K. citizen appointed by the prime minister to such a role.
“Luke is a warrior for freedom against the tyrants of our day and this honor is well deserved,” Hudson President and CEO John P. Walters said in the news release. “From his Army service to his incisive, clear-eyed research at Hudson, Luke is unwavering in his work to promote freedom at home and abroad. We are proud of his dedication to advance security, freedom, and prosperity for America and its allies and partners.”
