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 May 2023

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • Claire Lee

    Global Brand Ambassador

    SVB Capital

  • Don Loeb

    Chief Executive Officer

    Headlands West Advisory LLC

  • Elizabeth Hirsh Naftali

    Partner

    The Hirsh Collective

  • Jeffrey Neiman

    Vice President and General Counsel

    The Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation

  • John C. Novogrod

    Partner

    McLaughlin & Stern LLP

  • Hussain Qaragholi

    Founder and Managing Partner

    Phoenix Finance Partners


    Senior Advisor

    IFC

  • 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

Chairman Emeritus

Stephen J. Hadley

Former U.S. National Security Advisor

Principal

Rice, Hadley, Gates & Manuel LLC