Americans Hellenic Institute
Nicholas Larigakis
President & Chief Executive Officer
Nick Larigakis, resident of Alexandria, Va., became president & chief executive officer of the American Hellenic Institute (AHI), a non-profit Greek American public policy center, on January 1, 2011.
Mr. Larigakis has held different positions since 1987 (35 years ago) when he joined the organization.
As President and chief executive officer he manages the day-to-day operations of AHI and its affiliated organizations. He directs all aspects of strategic planning, policy analyses, public affairs programming, government relations, financial development, and media communications.
During his tenure, Larigakis has organized more than 80 legislative conferences, two trade conferences on “Doing Business in Greece, ”Seventeen conferences on the Future of Hellenism in America (2002-2018), a number of congressional fact finding delegations to Greece, and created the very successful, annual, AHI “College Foreign Policy Study Program” to Greece and Cyprus for college students of Greek descent.
Larigakis’ responsibilities at AHI have included working with the U.S. Congress on U.S.-Greece-Cyprus relations. He regularly travels throughout the U.S. to inform the public about AHI’s policy issues and other aspects of its mission. He has testified numerous times before Congressional Appropriations committees on foreign aid policy.
He is a frequent visitor to Greece and Cyprus where he regularly meets with Greek and Cypriot government officials. As a result, he is regularly interviewed by mainstream, Greek-American, Greek, and Cypriot media outlets, including the New York Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, ERT TV, Kathimerini, etc.. , on issues affecting U.S. relations with Greece and Cyprus. His work and interviews have been published in various Greek American newspapers, including the National Herald, Greek News, Hellenic Chronicle, Hellenic Voice and Hellenic News of America. In addition, he has had numerous “Letters to the Editor” published in the Washington Times and the Washington Post. During Greece’s economic crisis, Larigakis was also interviewed by Chinese and German media outlets.
Prior to AHI, Larigakis worked at the National League of Families for POW/MIA’s from Southeast Asia where he assisted in the coordination of the organization’s grass roots network.
For his work in support of Hellenic ideals and values, and for his strong advocacy in the promotion of U.S. relations with Greece and Cyprus, Larigakis has been honored numerous times:
In November 2021 the City of Sparta, Greece, presented Larigakis with an award “for his relentless efforts to promote the relations between Greece and the USA.”
In 2019, the Greek Minister of National Defense, bestowed upon him the Medal of “Honour and Valour” for his “distinguished services to the Hellenic Armed Forces and the Nation” and for “exceptional service and support in promoting the United States-Greece relationship.”
In 2015, he received the St. Katherine Community Service Award in Falls Church, VA, the “Medal” of the Hellenic Parliament (2011), the Inaugural AHEPA Outstanding Public Advocacy Award (2012), the 2007 Hellenic News of America Award, the 2008 Society of the Argonauts Award.
In 2019 he was the Grand Marshal of the Baltimore Greek Independence Day parade. The Greek Independence Day Committee of Tarpon Springs, Florida, has honored him as an Honorary Grand Marshal of the 2001 & 2009 parades, and Grand Marshal in 2017. He was also the Honorary Grand Marshal of the 2012 Philadelphia Greek Independence Day parade. In 2015 he has also been recognized with an honorary award from the Hellenic National Defense General Staff.
Larigakis is a member of AHEPA Chapter 438, Arlington, Va., he has served his parish of St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church in Falls Church, Va. in many capacities, including its Parish Council (2000-2002; 2004 – 2007; & 2012 -2018 ), Vice-President 2015 and 2017, and he has organized numerous events to raise funds for his church. He currently also serves on the Board of Directors of the Diabetes Research & Wellness Foundation, the American Hellenic Institute (AHI), AHI Foundation, and he is on the US Board of Trustees of the American Community Schools of Athens.
Larigakis received his B.A. in Political Science from the College of New Jersey, and did post graduate work in International Affairs at the American University in Washington, D.C.
In 2003, Larigakis was invested an Archon in the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. This is the highest lay award presented within the Orthodox Church.
During the historic 2004 Athens Olympic Games he served as a volunteer assigned to “Protocol” duties at the Olympic Indoor Hall.
He has traveled to forty-two U.S. States and twenty-three countries.
Larigakis is from the island of Skopelos, Greece, he has a daughter, Panayiota, and a grandson, Socrates.