Department of State, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs
Department/Agency: Department of State
Position:
Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs
Executive Schedule: Executive Level IV - Presidential Appointment with Senate Confirmation
Major Responsibilities:
Advise the Secretary and Under Secretary for Political Affairs on Near Eastern affairs Implement U.S. foreign policy in the Near East Promote U.S. interests in the region, including Middle East peace, counterterrorism and political and economic reform Supervise American embassies in Near Eastern countries Manage the Bureau of Near Eastern affairs budget
Key Competencies and Preferred Qualifications:
Insight:
The Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs is charged with building diplomatic relationships in one of the most volatile regions of the world. Incumbent C. David Welch has three words for the next administration: priority, investment and results. He said the next administration must place the region at the top of the priority list, direct significant resources to the effort and demand results.
"Across the board, this region of the world is the epicenter of our foreign policy," Welch testified before the Senate foreign relations committee.
The next head of the geographic bureau that deals with Iraq, Iran, Syria and Lebanon will not suffer from a shortage of crises to address.
While the Bush administration sought to promote a Middle East peace accord between Israel and Palestine before the end of its term, that task is likely to fall to the next administration. Welch evaded pointed questions from Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) in September 2008 about the likelihood of reaching that goal, saying it was important to maintain "lofty objectives."
Another objective that will likely remain unresolved for the next administration is reform of the Near East's economic system. Welch urged the next administration to be open to the possibility of free trade agreements in the region.
Welch pointed to Yemen as a specific trouble spot deserving more U.S. attention. He also highlighted the importance of returning Guantanamo Bay detainees to their home countries. "Reducing the profile of that problem is very much in our interest," he said.
Welch pointed to the growing interest in studying the language and culture of the region as an encouraging sign. A 2006 study by the Modern Language Association showed the number of students studying Arabic at U.S. colleges climbed 127 percent since the 2002 survey. The bureau can draw from a deepening pool of future diplomats with the language skills and knowledge to help address the many ongoing challenges in the region.
Key Relationships – Within the Department or Agency:
Secretary and Deputy Secretary of State
Under Secretary for Political Affairs
Assistant Secretary for Economic and Business Affairs
Other regional assistant secretaries
Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs
Key Relationships – Within the Government:
Senior Director, Near East and South Asian Affairs, National Security Council
Assistant Secretary, International Security Affairs, Department of Defense
Assistant Secretary, International Economic Policy, Department of Commerce
Counterpart at the Central Intelligence Agency
Key Relationships – Outside the Government:
Jewish-American and Arab-American organizations
Defense contractors
Foreign affairs groups
Universities
Diplomats from Near Eastern countries
Nomination Referred to:
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
Current Position Profile:
1. Jeffrey Feltman (Confirmed: Aug 7, 2009). Former Ambassador, Office of the U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon, Embassy of the United States, Lebanon, United States Department of State, George W. Bush Administration. Former Deputy Regional Coordinator, Northern Region, Iraq Coalition Provisional Authority.
Recent Position Profiles:
2. C. David Welch, M.A. (2005-2009). Career foreign service officer. Former ambassador to Egypt. Served as assistant secretary of state for international organization affairs and principal deputy assistant secretary of state in the bureau of Near Eastern affairs. Former deputy chief of mission at the U.S. embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Former National Security Council staff member. Served as a political officer in Jordan and chief of the political section in Syria. Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. Speaks Spanish and Arabic. 3. William J. Burns, Ph.D. (2001-2005). Former ambassador to Russia and Jordan. Former assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs. Holds rank of career ambassador and is now under secretary of state for political affairs, the highest career position in the State Department. Joined Foreign Service in 1982. Earned masters and doctorate in international relations as Marshall Scholar at Oxford University. Author of "Economic Aid and American Policy Toward Egypt, 1955-1981."
4. Edward S. Walker, Jr., M.A. (1999-2001). Middle East expert. Former ambassador to Israel, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. Served as the deputy permanent representative to the United Nations and deputy chief of mission in Saudi Arabia. After retirement from diplomatic service, became president of the Middle East Institute and professor of global politics at Hamilton College.
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