Senior intelligence officials said warm goodbyes to U.S. Diplomat Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, who passed away Monday in a Washington D.C. hospital after two long operations to repair a tear in his aorta.

Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper said “today our country lost one of its greatest diplomats, stalwarts and champions.”

“I worked closely with him on tough challenges from Bosnia to South Asia. Richard was a man of supreme intellect and talent whose instincts, insights, and leadership helped shape our country’s foreign policy for many decades,” said CIA director Leon Panetta.  “I am saddened by his passing, but I am confident of Richard Holbrooke’s enduring legacy.”

Holbrooke was in the process of  finalizing a very much anticipated report on Afghanistan scheduled to be released Thursday.