Ambassador Victor Ashe lives in Knoxville, Tennessee where he served as mayor for 16 years becoming the longest-serving mayor in the city's history. He established sister city relationships with Chełm, Poland, Muroran, Japan and Larissa, Greece.

Ashe graduated from Yale University in 1967 and received his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1974.

Ashe started his public service with his election to the Tennessee House of Representatives in 1968 followed by his election to the state senate in 1975. As a legislator, Ashe pushed for campaign finance reform, a presidential primary, and the scenic routes act.

Ashe ran for Mayor of Knoxville in 1987 and served four terms from 1988 to 2003. He pushed the expansion of greenways and parks, built a new convention center, three new firehalls, and renovated numerous senior citizen centers. He served as president of the US Conference of Mayors in 1995-96.

President George W. Bush nominated him to be US Ambassador to Poland in 2004 and he served to October 2009, including under President Obama. In 2011 President Obama appointed Ashe to the Broadcasting Board of Governors which runs Radio Free Europe and Voice of America.

Ashe is married to the former Joan Plumlee and they have two children, J Victor, 30 and Martha, 27.