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jamesj 220x220 - Ambassador James Jeffrey

Ambassador James Jeffrey

Chair Middle East Program, Wilson Center

Bio Current as of July 20, 2022

Ambassador Jeffrey retired from the U.S. foreign Service in 2012 with the rank of Career Ambassador, the highest in the Service. He was called back to duty in 2018 to serve as the State Department Syria Envoy and concurrently Special Representative to the Defeat-ISIS Coalition, until November 2020. He is currently the Chair, Middle East Program, at the Wilson Center. Over his 35 year career he served as Ambassador to Iraq 2010-12, Deputy Chief of Mission and Charge, Iraq, 2004-05, Ambassador to Turkey 2008-2010, Ambassador to Albania 2002-04.

He was George W Bush’s Deputy National Security Advisor 2007-08. He served as an Army Infantry Officer in Germany and Vietnam between 1969 and 1976. He is married with two children.