A Special Event for Corporate Council Members
For the second year running, MEI convened its CENTCOM Commanders Council to address the biggest challenges facing U.S.-Middle East relations. Current CENTCOM Commander Gen. Michael E. Kurilla delivered the keynote address, followed by a panel featuring retired Gens. John Abizaid and Joseph Votel, and two former assistant secretaries of state discussing how the U.S. should engage with its allies and counter its adversaries in the region.
2024 Program
Keynote
Gen. Michael E. Kurilla
15th Commander of U.S. Central Command (current)
Panel
Gen. (Ret.) John P. Abizaid
United States Army
8th Commander of U.S. Central Command
Former U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia
Chairman of the Middle East Institute Board of Governors
Gen. (Ret.) Joseph Votel
13th Commander of U.S. Central Command
MEI Distinguished Sr. Fellow on National Security
Ambassador Anne Patterson
Former Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs
Mr. David Schenker
Former Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs
David Ignatius (moderator)
Columnist, The Washington Post
2024 Reception Sponsors
Sponsorship
Thank you to all of this year’s sponsors and attendees. If you are interested in sponsoring the 2025 event, please contact development@mei.edu.
Click here to learn more about MEI Corporate Council membership and benefits, or view our brochure (PDF).
2023 Program
On September 14th, 2023, MEI hosted it's inaugural CENTCOM Commanders Council Dinner at its headquarters in Washington D.C. The dinner featured an off-record conversation with four former CENTCOM Commanders: Generals (ret.) Anthony Zinni, John Abizaid, Joseph Votel, and Frank McKenzie; as well as remarks from the current CENTCOM Director of Strategy, Plans, and Policy, Maj. Gen. Sean M. Salene.
View our readout from the 2023 event
About the Defense and Security Program
MEI's Defense and Security Program provides rigorous and multidisciplinary analysis of the current and emerging defense and security challenges and opportunities facing the United States and its regional partners. It also works to create a unique, credible, and independent platform for defense and security stakeholders from both the United States and the region to more closely interact, exchange views, and share experiences regarding various matters of national security.