[citation needed] Cleveland's father died when he was eight years old, after which the family moved to Geneva, Switzerland, where he attended school and learned French.

[4] Cleveland's career included periods of service as an American diplomat and as an educator, as well as significant productivity as a writer and book author.

][7] Cleveland participated in the final meeting of the International Commission on Peace & Food (ICPF) at the Carter Presidential Center in October 1993, and released ICPF's report to the UN entitled, "Uncommon Opportunities: Agenda for Peace & Equitable Development" at the Minneapolis General Assembly in October 1994.

He then served as chair of the commission's successor organization, the "International Center for Peace and Development" (ICPD) in California, for the remainder of his active years.

[citation needed][8] Cleveland represented both the ICPD and World Academy of Art & Science (WAAS) at the 10th anniversary conference of ICPF in Delhi in October 2004.

[citation needed][9] Cleveland authored twelve books, among his best-known are The Knowledge Executive (1985) and Nobody in Charge: Essays on the Future of Leadership (2002).

[6] Cleveland served actively in the World Academy of Art & Science (WAAS) and the Club of Rome for more than a quarter century.