Global Perspectives with Richard N. Haass

About Richard N. Haass

Haass is a veteran diplomat, a prominent voice on American foreign policy and an established leader of nonprofit institutions. He is in his 18th year as president of the Council on Foreign Relations, an independent, nonpartisan membership organization.

In 2013, he served as chair of the multiparty negotiations in Northern Ireland that provided the foundation for the 2014 Stormont House Agreement. For his efforts, he received the 2013 Tipperary International Peace Award.

From January 2001 to June 2003, Haass was director of policy planning for the Department of State, where he was a principal advisor to Secretary of State Colin Powell. Confirmed as ambassador, he also served as U.S. coordinator for policy toward the future of Afghanistan and U.S. envoy to the Northern Ireland peace process.

From 1981–1993, Haass was special assistant to President George H.W. Bush and senior director for Near East and South Asian affairs for the National Security Council. In 1991, he was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal for his contributions to U.S. policy during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He also served in the Departments of State and Defense and was a legislative aide in the U.S. Senate.

A Rhodes Scholar, Haass holds a bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College and master’s and doctorate degrees from Oxford University.