WASHINGTON, DC — The Middle East Institute (MEI) is pleased to announce that Ambassador (ret.) C. David Welch has been elected Chair of the Middle East Institute Board of Governors, succeeding General (ret.) John P. Abizaid, who has completed his term.
“The Middle East Institute has been a vital institution for American understanding of this region for more than 80 years, and I am honored to follow in the steps of my distinguished predecessors,” said Amb. Welch. “MEI’s policy expertise and programs are indispensable in these times. I look forward to working with Stu Jones, President of MEI, and the entire MEI team to deepen the partnerships and dialogue that help shape informed public opinion and sound policy.”
Outgoing MEI Board Chair Gen. Abizaid stated, “MEI is blessed to have David Welch assume the Chair. Long an important voice in U.S. policy towards the Middle East, he has also been an exemplary Board member and colleague.”
Amb. Welch served in the US Foreign Service for 32 years, retiring in 2008 as a Career Ambassador, the highest rank in the American diplomatic service. He held presidential appointments under Presidents Bush and Clinton, including as Assistant Secretary of State for Near East and South Asian Affairs, US Ambassador to Egypt, and Assistant Secretary of State for International Organizations. He also served as Chargé d’Affaires in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and had postings in Jordan, Syria, and Pakistan. He served on the National Security Council staff at the White House from 1989 to 1992.
Following the State Department, Amb. Welch had a successful second career as a Senior Vice President for International and Corporate Affairs at Bechtel Corporation, a global engineering, construction, and project management firm. In that capacity, he lived and worked in the United Kingdom, the UAE, and Washington, DC.
Amb. Welch is a long-time Board member of the Middle East Institute. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Academy of American Diplomacy. He serves on several non-profit boards.
A magna cum laude graduate of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and of the Fletcher School at Tufts University, Amb. Welch is married to Gretchen Welch, also a retired Foreign Service Officer. They have three daughters, two of whom were born in the Middle East, and three grandchildren.
“I am grateful that David Welch has agreed to assume the Chair of the Middle East Institute Board of Governors, at this crucial moment in the region and in our institution,” said Amb. Jones, MEI’s President. “David has a long history of distinguished public service and deep engagement in the Middle East. He is perfectly suited to help guide MEI as it continues to fulfill its primary mission, which is to foster greater understanding and partnership between the people of the United States and the people of the Middle East.”