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.
Areas of Expertise
Media Queries
- H. Andrew Schwartz
- Chief Communications Officer
- 202.775.3242
- aschwartz@csis.org
- Paige Montfort
- Assistant Director of Communications, External Relations
- 202.775.3173
- pmontfort@csis.org
In the News
While Gazans Suffer, Hamas Reaps the Benefits
Jon B. Alterman in New York Times — December 9, 2023
Israel may try to drive Hamas out of its tunnels in Gaza by pumping them full of seawater: WSJ
Jon B. Alterman in Business Insider — December 5, 2023
Israel Weighs Plan to Flood Gaza Tunnels With Seawater
Jon B. Alterman in Wall Street Journal — December 4, 2023
Is Biden’s stance on Israel out of sync with mainstream America?
Jon B. Alterman in Al Jazeera — November 18, 2023
White House warns Israel against fighting near Gaza hospitals
Jon B. Alterman in CBS — November 13, 2023
Biden and Bibi are at odds over the Gaza endpoint – for now
Jon B. Alterman in Washington Post — November 13, 2023
U.S. is warned about its global standing as Gaza suffering persists
Jon B. Alterman in Washington Post — November 11, 2023
Ceasefire?
Jon B. Alterman in "Today, Explained" by Vox — November 8, 2023
All Jon B. Alterman Content
Filter by
Egypt and the War in Gaza: A Conversation with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry
Event — December 7, 2023
Gaza: The Human Toll— Episode 2
Event — December 1, 2023
Rula Hardal: Life as a Palestinian Citizen of Israel
Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman Will Todman and Leah Hickert — November 28, 2023

Audio Brief: Israel Could Lose
Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman — November 21, 2023

COP Stocktake: Inside Perspectives on the Global Climate Conference
Event — November 16, 2023
Khalil Sayegh: What We Get Wrong About Gaza
Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman Natasha Hall and Leah Hickert — November 14, 2023

“Israel Could Lose”: Audio Brief with Jon B. Alterman
Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman — November 10, 2023

Israel Could Lose
Commentary by Jon B. Alterman — November 7, 2023
Navigating the Global Energy Transition: A Conversation with Kuwait Petroleum CEO Sh. Nawaf Al-Sabah
Event — November 6, 2023
Neri Zilber: Inside Israeli Politics During Wartime
Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman Natasha Hall and Leah Hickert — October 31, 2023
