Jon B. Alterman
Jon B. Alterman is a senior vice president, holds the Zbigniew Brzezinski Chair in Global Security and Geostrategy, and is director of the Middle East Program at CSIS. Prior to joining CSIS in 2002, he served as a member of the Policy Planning Staff at the U.S. Department of State and as a special assistant to the assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, and from 2009-2019 he served as a member of the Chief of Naval Operations Executive Panel. In addition to his policy work, he often teaches Middle Eastern studies at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and the George Washington University. Earlier in his career, Alterman was a scholar at the U.S. Institute of Peace and at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and a legislative aide to Senator Daniel P. Moynihan (D-NY) responsible for foreign policy and defense. From 1993 to 1997, Alterman was an award-winning teacher at Harvard University, where he received his Ph.D. in history. Alterman has lectured in more than 35 countries on five continents on subjects related to the Middle East and U.S. policy toward the region. He is the author or coauthor of four books on the Middle East and the editor of five more. In addition to his academic work, he is sought out as a consultant to business and government and is a frequent commentator in print, on radio, and on television. His opinion pieces have appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and other major publications. He is a former international affairs fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, where he is now a life member. He received his A.B. from Princeton University's School of Public and International Affairs.
Media Queries
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- Chief Communications Officer
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- Media Relations Coordinator, External Relations
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In the News
Trump Is Shaping US Foreign Policy Well Before He Takes Office
Jon B. Alterman in Bloomberg — November 8, 2024
3 charged in Iran-linked plot to kill Donald Trump
Jon B. Alterman in CBS — November 8, 2024
How Harris, Trump handle foreign affairs could play in the 2024 election: ANALYSIS
Jon B. Alterman in ABC News — November 5, 2024
The world beyond the election: Middle East in turmoil
Jon B. Alterman in The Washington Post — October 28, 2024
There’s no ceasefire in sight for Israel’s Gaza war. Why not?
Jon B. Alterman in Vox — October 19, 2024
What comes next after Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar’s death?
Jon B. Alterman in ABC — October 18, 2024
After Sinwar death, Biden faces big obstacles to Gaza peace
Jon B. Alterman in Reuters — October 18, 2024
What Will Happen to Yahya Sinwar’s Body?
Jon B. Alterman in The New York Times — October 18, 2024
All Jon B. Alterman Content
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Analysis: Israel Hits Iran
Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman and Asher Grant-Sasson — November 5, 2024
China in the Middle East
Event — November 4, 2024
Amjad Iraqi: The Future of Palestinians in Israel
Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman, Natasha Hall, and Leah Hickert — October 29, 2024
Analysis: Israel's Trajectory
Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman and Leah Hickert — October 22, 2024
What Does Yahya Sinwar’s Death Mean?
Critical Questions by Jon B. Alterman — October 17, 2024
What Does Yahya Sinwar’s Death Mean?
Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman — October 17, 2024
Lina Khatib: War Spreads to Lebanon
Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman, Will Todman, and Leah Hickert — October 15, 2024
Analysis: Israel's Ground Invasion into Lebanon
Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman and Leah Hickert — October 8, 2024
A Region Aflame - October 7 A Year Later
Event — October 7, 2024
At The One-Year Mark—Gaza: The Human Toll
Event — October 7, 2024