Richard Miles Joins CSIS as Director of the U.S.-Mexico Futures Initiative
July 10, 2017
WASHINGTON: The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Richard G. Miles as Director of the U.S.-Mexico Futures Initiative, and Deputy Director of the Americas Program. Mr. Miles will succeed Kimberly Breier who leaves CSIS to take up a political appointment as Senior Member, Policy Planning Staff at the State Department, where she will oversee the Western Hemisphere.
“I am happy to welcome Richard to our Americas Program,” said Dr. John J. Hamre, CSIS president and CEO. “Richard’s insights will greatly enhance the Center’s regional expertise at a crucial moment for U.S. relations with its neighbors in the Western Hemisphere.”
Dr. Hamre continued, “We thank Kim Breier for her significant contributions to CSIS’s Americas footprint. We wish Kim all the best as she reenters public service as a senior political appointee at the State Department.”
Mr. Miles joins CSIS after 16 years as a Foreign Service Officer at the U.S. Department of State. His diplomatic assignments included embassies in Argentina, Barbados, Germany, and a Provincial Reconstruction Team in Iraq. In Washington, he was the Alternate Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS), Peru country officer, and an advisor on Western Hemisphere affairs to the Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs. He later directed Mexican and Canadian issues on the National Security Council staff at the White House.
“I am delighted to welcome Richard to CSIS,” said Michael Matera, director of the CSIS Americas Program. “Richard will contribute greatly to our research efforts, leveraging his many years of exceptional public and private sector experience in the region.”
“Richard is taking over an active Mexico Initiative that Kimberly Breier did a superb job in getting off the ground during her year at CSIS,” Mr. Matera continued. “We warmly wish Kim success in her new position at the State Department and are grateful for all that she accomplished as our colleague.”
Prior to this, Mr. Miles served as an intelligence officer with the U.S. Army and was assigned to the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment in Germany. He later took part in Operation Desert Storm as the unit led the coalition attack against Iraqi armored forces.
Recently, Mr. Miles co-founded the Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention in Gainesville, Florida. Mr. Miles holds a B.A. in Russian Studies from the University of Washington, and a M.S. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University.