
Jon B. Alterman holds the Zbigniew Brzezinski Chair in Global Security and Geostrategy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (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 to 2019, he served as a member of the Chief of Naval Operations Executive Panel. In addition to his policy work, he has been a frequent instructor at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, the George Washington University, and other local universities. 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 PhD in history. Alterman has lectured in more than 35 countries on 5 continents on subjects related to the Middle East and global strategy, and he led the CSIS Middle East program for more than 20 years. He is the author or coauthor of four books 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 AB from Princeton University's School of Public and International Affairs.
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In the News 8 of 1264 results
Did the US know about Israel’s attack all along?
Jon B. Alterman cited in Financial Times — June 16, 2025
Can Israel destroy Iran’s nuclear sites?
Jon B. Alterman cited in Financial Times — June 13, 2025
Military briefing: How Iran is preparing for Israeli or US strikes
Jon B. Alterman cited in Financial Times — June 4, 2025
Military briefing: How Iran is preparing for Israeli or US strikes
Jon B. Alterman cited in Financial Times — June 1, 2025
Israel feels fallout of Trump’s ceasefire with Houthis
Jon B. Alterman cited in POLITICO — May 30, 2025
For Trump, Adulation and No Risk of Protests Made the Gulf a Dream Trip
Jon B. Alterman cited in The New York Times — May 17, 2025
Flatter or confront? How world leaders are dealing with Trump
Jon B. Alterman cited in Financial Times — May 16, 2025
Saudis invest big in US weapons, AI as Trump basks in welcome
Jon B. Alterman cited in AFP — May 13, 2025
All Jon B. Alterman Content
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After Assad: The Future of Syria
Congressional Testimony by Jon B. Alterman — June 5, 2025
Combating State Hostage Taking and Wrongful Detention
Event — June 4, 2025
Combating State Hostage Taking and Wrongful Detention
Report by Jon B. Alterman and Jason Rezaian — June 4, 2025
Babel Special: Jon Alterman's Next Chapter
Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman and Will Todman — May 22, 2025

Mohanad Hage Ali: Hezbollah and the Captagon Trade
Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman, Mona Yacoubian, and Asher Grant-Sasson — May 15, 2025

Scenarios That Could Define 2035
Digital Report by Jon B. Alterman — May 14, 2025
U.S. Global Leadership Falters
Digital Report by Jon B. Alterman — May 14, 2025
Trust Fails
Digital Report by Jon B. Alterman — May 14, 2025
China Stalls
Digital Report by Jon B. Alterman — May 14, 2025
Press Briefing: Previewing President Trump's Trip to the Middle East
Event — May 8, 2025