Advisory Board

The CMEPP advisory board provides critical strategic guidance and generous philanthropic support for RAND's Middle East research. The board is composed of public policy, nonprofit, and private sector leaders with active interests, knowledge, and experience in the Middle East.

List updated February 2022

  • Ryan Crocker (Chair)

    Former Ambassador to Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Syria, Kuwait and Lebanon

    Nonresident Senior Fellow

    Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

  • Howard L. Berman (Vice Chair)

    Former U.S. Congressman

    Senior Advisor

    Covington & Burling LLP

  • Stephen J. Hadley (Chair Emeritus)

    Former U.S. National Security Advisor

    Principal

    Rice, Hadley, Gates & Manuel LLC

  • Robert C. Adler

    Health Policy Analyst – Middle East

    Middle East Policy Analysis Group

  • Goli Ameri

    Chief Executive Officer and Cofounder

    StartitUp

  • Nancy A. Aossey

    President and Chief Executive Officer

    International Medical Corps

  • Alexander L. Cappello

    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

    CAPPELLO GLOBAL, LLC

  • George N. Chammas

    Director

    Chammas Group of Companies

  • John Fishel

    Board Member

    Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation

  • Cliff P. Goldstein

    Founder and Managing Partner

    Goldstein Planting Investments

  • Howard Gordon

    Executive Producer

    Teakwood Lane Productions

  • Ray R. Irani

    Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

    Occidental Petroleum Corporation


    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

    Ray Investments, LLC

  • Ann Kerr-Adams

    Fulbright Coordinator

    UCLA International Institute

  • David M. Kirchheimer

    Advisory Partner

    Oaktree Capital Management

  • Claire Lee

    Global Brand Ambassador

    SVB Capital

  • Don Loeb

    Chief Executive Officer

    Headlands West Advisory LLC

  • Elizabeth Hirsh Naftali

    Partner

    The Hirsh Collective

  • John C. Novogrod

    Partner

    McLaughlin & Stern LLP

  • Hussain Qaragholi

    Managing Director

    Corporate Coverage, Middle East

    Deutsche Bank

  • William J. Recker

    Chair Emeritus

    Energy Innovation Center

  • Peter Richards

    Board Member

    Broad Reach Foundation

  • Safa Rifka

    OB/GYN & Endocrinology & Infertility Specialist

    Columbia Fertility Associates

  • Hasan R. Shirazi

    Managing Director

    Citi Private Bank