Bruce Rogers, the deputy chief of mission in the U.S. Embassy in Rīga, has died at age 54. He spent a total of six years working in Latvia.

Rogers died unexpectedly in his sleep, according to a June 28 press release from the embassy.

“Bruce loved Latvia passionately, and he loved working on U.S.-Latvian relations,” U.S. Ambassador Judith Garber said in a statement. “He was due to leave in just a few days, and it was very hard for him to go because he loved being here so much, but he knew Latvia would always be in his heart.”

Rogers joined the U.S. Department of State in 1985, serving in Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Kingdom, Belgium and Afghanistan, in addition to Latvia. He served as the political and economic counselor in the Rīga embassy from 2000-2003.

Before returning to Latvia, Rogers served three years as the deputy political advisor in the U.S. Mission to the NATO defense alliance, and spent one year in Afghanistan as the director for provincial reconstruction and local governance at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul.

In August 2008, Rogers became the deputy chief of mission in Rīga.

Rogers in 1981 earned a bachelor’s degree in history and international relations San Francisco State University and in 2007 received a master’s degree in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College in Newport, R.I. He was the recipient of four State Department Superior Honor Awards and two Meritorious Honor Awards.

He is survived by his wife, Gale, and two children.

A memorial book will be available for signing starting at 9 a.m. June 29 at the U.S. Embassy, 1 Remtes iela, Rīga.

Bruce Rogers, deputy chief of mission in the U.S. Embassy in Rīga, has died. (Photo from U.S. Embassy, Rīga)