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 December 2018

  • Ryan Crocker (Chair)

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

  • 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

    Former Assistant Secretary of State – Educational & Cultural Affairs

    U.S. Department of State

    Cofounder

    Startitup.org

  • Nancy A. Aossey

    President and Chief Executive Officer

    International Medical Corps

  • Alexander L. Cappello

    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

    Cappello Group Inc.

  • George N. Chammas

    Director

    Chammas Group of Companies

  • Tarek Dajani

    Chairman

    DNY Group

  • Diane and Guilford Glazer Philanthropies

  • Clifford P. Goldstein

    Founder and Managing Partner

    GPI Companies

  • Howard Gordon

    Executive Producer

    Teakwood Lane Productions

  • Michal Grayevsky

    Vice Chairman

    Media RSL Management

    President

    JCS International LLC

    The Ronald S. Lauder Foundation

  • Stephen Hadley

    Former U.S. National Security Advisor

    Principal

    RiceHadleyGates LLC

  • 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 Kirchheimer

    Advisory Partner

    Oaktree Capital Management

  • Sharon S. Nazarian

    President

    Y&S Nazarian Family Foundation

  • Younes Nazarian

    Founder and Chairman

    Y&S Nazarian Family Foundation

  • John C. Novogrod

    Partner

    McLaughlin & Stern LLP

  • Hussain Qaragholi

    Director, Sovereigns and Sovereign Wealth Funds Coverage

    Corporate and Investment Banking, Deutsche Bank

  • William J. Recker

    Chair Emeritus

    Energy Innovation Center

  • Peter Richards

    Board Member

    Broad Reach Foundation

  • Hasan Shirazi

    Managing Director

    Citi Private Bank

  • Donald Ellis Simon

    President

    The Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation

  • Jay Stein

    Chairman of the Board

    Stein Mart, Inc.