(Washington, DC, April 23, 2025) - The Middle East Institute (MEI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mary McInnis Boies and General (ret.) Joseph L. Votel to its Board of Governors. They bring a wealth of expertise and experience to advance MEI’s mission to promote peace, prosperity, security, and freedom as central tenets of the US-Middle East relationship.
Mary McInnis Boies, Counsel to Boies Schiller Flexner LLP, has had a distinguished career in antitrust and corporate commercial litigation. She brings extensive business and management credentials to MEI, as well as experience in the public sector, having worked at the White House and in Congress early in her career. A respected voice in foreign affairs and national security, Boies has held leadership and advisory roles at the Council on Foreign Relations, Business Executives for National Security, the MIT Center for International Studies, Harvard Kennedy School, and the US Air Force’s education and research institutions, among many others.
“I’m honored that MEI has elected me to the Board,” Boies said. “The Middle East is central to core American interests, and to many of today's most pressing global challenges and opportunities. I look forward to working with General Abizaid and the rest of the Board to not just maintain, but to build on the excellence that has been MEI's calling card for almost a century.”
General (ret.) Joseph L. Votel brings decades of military and leadership excellence to the Board, having served as the 13th Commander of US Central Command, where he oversaw all US military operations in the Middle East. A former commander of both US Special Operations Command and Joint Special Operations Command, General Votel is one of the military’s most respected strategic leaders. He is a recipient of numerous top military honors and previously served as President and CEO of Business Executives for National Security. He currently serves as a Distinguished Military Fellow at MEI and as a strategic advisor to DC Capital Partners, Sierra Nevada Corporation, and other major defense companies.
“MEI has a critical role to play in guiding America’s engagement with the Middle East,” said Votel. “At this pivotal moment for the region and US interests there, MEI’s mission has never been more important, and I look forward to working with MEI’s Chairman and the entire Board to chart a course for the Institute.”
General (ret.) John Abizaid, Chairman of MEI’s Board of Governors, said, “These American leaders bring extraordinary experience and insight to MEI’s Board of Governors. Mary’s deep knowledge of law, governance, and international affairs, combined with General Votel’s expertise and leadership in national security, will enrich our work and strengthen MEI’s impact at a critical time for American interests in the region.”
Founded in 1946, the Middle East Institute (MEI) is America’s leading nonpartisan policy and cultural institute focused on the Middle East. Based in Washington, DC, and working at the intersection of policy, education, and culture, MEI is the leading convener of Middle East experts and officials, fostering dialogue between diverse stakeholders. Its experts provide cutting-edge analysis of a complex region, while its Arts and Culture Center promotes understanding and cultural diplomacy through the universal language of the arts. MEI’s Policy Center boasts a roster of leading regional experts, including former diplomats and US defense and security officials who provide decision makers with trusted analysis of the region’s challenges and identify opportunities to advance US national interests.