J. William Middendorf

John William Middendorf II (born September 22, 1924) is a former Republican United States diplomat.

John William Middendorf II received a Bachelor of Naval Science degree from College of the Holy Cross in 1945. In World War II he served in the Navy (1944-1946) as engineer officer and navigator aboard USS LCS(L) 53, being mustered out in 1946.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard College in 1947, where he was a member of the Hasty Pudding Theatricals and the Owl Club. He also graduated from New York University's Graduate School of Business Administration, receiving an M.B.A. in 1954.

He became an investment banker and in 1963 in partnership with Austen Colgate formed his own company, Middendorf, Colgate and Company (with a seat on the New York Stock Exchange).

An early member of Barry Goldwater's presidential campaign, he served as treasurer of that campaign, and continued to have the same duties with the Republican National Committee from 1965–1969, when Richard Nixon appointed him ambassador to the Netherlands, where he served until 1973.

After returning to the U.S., he became Under Secretary, then Secretary of the Navy from 1974–1977, and was President and Chief Executive Officer of Financial General Bankshares from 1977-1981. In 1981 he was named Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the Organization of American States, with the rank of Ambassador.

During his time as the Secretary of the Navy, he oversaw the creation of the Marine Corps Marathon, and the trophy for the winner is named in his honor. He was one of the architects of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

In 2006 Middendorf published a book describing his work with the Goldwater campaign. Glorious Disaster: Barry Goldwater's Presidential Campaign and the Origins of the Conservative Movement details how Goldwater's campaign became the foundation of the modern Conservative movement. In 2011 he published his autobiography, Potomac Fever. He is a member of the board of trustees for the Heritage Foundation, an influential Washington, D.C.-based public policy research institute.

He is a prolific composer of symphonies (including Holland Symphony, presented to Dutch Queen Juliana on the 25th anniversary of her ascension to the throne) and 100 marches.

Ambassador Middendorf is a member of the board of directors of the International Republican Institute. He is also a member of the Rhode Island Society of the Sons of the Revolution.

Honors and Awards
Middendorf has received the "Edwin Franko Goldman Award" from the American Bandmasters Association and is a member of the American Society of Composers and Performers (ASCAP). Other honors include:
 * Hudson River Museum Honoree, Hudson River Museum, 2009
 * Maritime Security Lifetime Excellence Award, 2002
 * Arleigh Burke Award – Navy League of the United States, 1998
 * Superior Honor Award, U.S. Department of State, 1974
 * Distinguished Public Service Award, awarded by U.S. Department of Defense, 1975;   second award (palm) 1976
 * Navy Distinguished Public Service Award, 1976
 * Ludwig von Mises Free Market Award – 1985
 * Distinguished Service Award, Purdue University Band
 * Gold Medal, The Netherlands Society of the Sons of American Revolution
 * Medal of Honor, Midwest National Band and Orchestra Association
 * Alumnus of the Year, New York University Graduate School of Business
 * Association of Harvard Clubs of American Award (Music) (Keogh Award)
 * American Friends of Turkey Leadership Award, 1989
 * Presidential Physical Fitness Award, 1990
 * Distinguished Patriot Award, SAR of State of New York, 1975
 * Award of Merit, Art League of Virginia (Portrait of Del), 1996
 * U.S. Olympic Committee Gold Shield Award
 * Gold Medal, Holland Society of New York, 1996
 * American Bandmasters Association Edwin Franko Goldman Award
 * American Music Award, Harvard Clubs

Honorary Degrees

 * Troy State University – Doctor of Law
 * School of the Ozarks – Doctor of Letters
 * American Christian College – Doctor of Letters
 * Francisco Marroquin University – Doctor of Social Sciences

Foreign Decorations
Grand Master in Order of Orange-Nassau, The Netherlands, 1985
 * Order of the Arab Republic of Egypt – Rank A (highest foreign decoration) by President Sadat
 * Grand Master of the Order of Naval Merit – Republic of Brazil, 1974
 * Naval Distinguished Service Medal, Brazil, 1976