Jon B. Alterman Keynote Speaker

Zbigniew Brzezinski Chair in Global Security and Geostrategy at Center for Strategic and International Studies
Former member of Policy Planning Staff at U.S. Department of State, former adviser to the Chief of Naval Operations, and former Capitol Hill aide, with broad bipartisan credentials.
An Arabic speaker who has traveled to every country in the Middle East, Alterman is the former director of the Middle East program at CSIS and was senior vice president of the think tank for more than a decade.

Jon B. Alterman's Biography

Jon B. Alterman is one of Washington’s leading experts on geopolitics and the Middle East. He has worked directly with CEOs, cabinet officials, flag officers, White House staff and others for many years to understand risk and opportunities in a changing global environment.

Alterman has lectured in more than 35 countries on five continents on matters related to the Middle East, geopolitics, and U.S. foreign policy. He is an award-winning teacher and engaging lecturer, with decades of experience appearing on the world’s most influential television and radio networks. His articles and commentaries have appeared in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Financial Times, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Survival, and many other outlets. He also worked for many years leading Middle East analysis for Teneo’s political risk team, translating strategic insights into actionable intelligence.

Alterman brings an especially deep understanding of the U.S. government’s decision making processes, U.S. politics, Great Power competition, and the efforts of middle powers to shape the evolving global context.

Alterman has written or co-written four books and is the editor or co-editor of six more. He has a Ph.D. from Harvard University, where he studied U.S.-Middle East relations. He also has been a pioneer in understanding China’s evolving relationships in the Middle East, which he began studying two decades ago.

Iran and Middle East Security

The future of U.S. approaches to the world

China’s growing Middle East partnerships

Fulcrums of Order: Rising powers and the struggle for the future

He has advised CEOs, cabinet officials and senior policymakers for decades on geopolitical risk and opportunity in the Middle East and beyond.
He translates complex global dynamics into clear, actionable insight for leaders navigating uncertainty and change.
He brings deep understanding of U.S. decision-making, great power competition and shifting global alliances.
He is an engaging and experienced speaker with a strong international track record across business and policy audiences.
His briefings help leaders assess geopolitical risk, stress-test strategy and make confident decisions.