Nicholas Burns

Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Politic, Harvard Kennedy School

GOVERNANCE & CIVIL SOCIETY LEADERSHIP

He writes a foreign affairs column for the Boston Globe. He is a member of Secretary of State John Kerry’s Foreign Affairs Policy Board at the State Department, Director of the Aspen Strategy Group and a Senior Counselor at the Cohen Group. He served in the U.S. Foreign Service for 27 years until his retirement in 2008. He was Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (2005-2008); Ambassador to NATO (2001-2005); Ambassador to Greece (1997-2001) and State Department Spokesman (1995-1997). He worked on the National Security Council staff as Senior Director for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia Affairs and Special Assistant to President Clinton and as Director for Soviet Affairs for President George H.W. Bush. Earlier in his career, he worked at the American Consulate General in Jerusalem and in the American Embassies in Egypt and Mauritania. He serves on the Board of several corporate and non-profit organizations.