Martin O'Malley

Stevens, O'Malley said, "gave his life reaching out to those emerging from the rubble of Gadhafi's dictatorship."

O'Malley's strategy, he said, would better equip diplomats like Stevens who are working in "hostile" environments with the tools to engage with local leaders and improve American intelligence of emerging threats.

"We must recognize that there are real lessons to be learned from the tragedy in Benghazi," he said. "Namely, we need to know in advance who is likely to take power or vie for it once a dictator is toppled."