Gilmore then pursued Russian and East European studies at Indiana University Bloomington.

[3] Gilmore's rise in the foreign service included working as deputy commandant for international affairs at the United States Army War College.

[6] President George H. W. Bush tapped Gilmore as U.S. ambassador to Armenia in August 1992, but his nomination was not acted upon by the United States Senate.

[7][8] Gilmore was nominated for the second time by President Bill Clinton on April 2, 1993, and confirmed by the Senate.

The couple would present American show tunes and other music at U.S. embassy events.