Diplomat & National Security Expert; Former Special Presidential Envoy; Venture Partner at Lux Capital; CNN Global Affairs Analyst
Brett McGurk Biography
Brett McGurk is an American diplomat and national security expert who has served in senior roles under four consecutive U.S. presidents: George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden. McGurk has played a significant role in Middle East military strategy, diplomacy, and U.S. policy for more than two decades. His legal background includes clerkships with Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist on the U.S. Supreme Court, Judge Dennis Jacobs on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit, and Judge Gerard E. Lynch on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
McGurk began his government career in Iraq, where he contributed to drafting Iraq's new constitution following the ouster of Saddam Hussein. As Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Iraq and Afghanistan under President Bush, he helped develop "The Surge," a shift in Iraq war strategy. McGurk also served as a lead negotiator during bilateral talks with the Iraqi government on a long-term strategic framework agreement and a security agreement governing the presence of U.S. forces and the normalization of bilateral relations between Iraq and the United States.
Under President Obama, McGurk served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Iraq and Iran, leading negotiations that resulted in the release of six American citizens from Evin prison. As Special Presidential Envoy for both Obama and Trump, he led a global coalition of more than 80 countries and local forces to defeat ISIS and prevent attacks in Europe and the United States. McGurk also led negotiations with Iran to secure the release of American hostages, including Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, and received the James Foley Freedom Award for hostage diplomacy. He played a role in restoring diplomatic relations between Iraq and Saudi Arabia and helped facilitate the formation of Iraqi governments following contested elections.
As the Biden administration's top Middle East official, McGurk managed complex diplomatic challenges, including multi-month negotiations to secure the release of Israeli hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza, and coordinated Israel's defense against large-scale ballistic missile attacks. During his tenure at the State Department, McGurk received the Distinguished Honor Award and the Distinguished Service Award, the department's highest honors for exceptional service in Washington and overseas assignments.
After leaving government, McGurk transitioned to academia and the private sector. He has contributed to the Belfer Center at Harvard Kennedy School, providing insights into U.S. foreign policy and presidential decision-making. McGurk is a venture partner at Lux Capital, focusing on AI and defense technology, and serves as Cisco Systems' special adviser for the Middle East and international affairs. His work has included advancing technology and energy corridors between India, the Gulf states, Israel, Jordan, and Europe, and examining the role of AI and computing infrastructure in strategic partnerships. McGurk is also a CNN Global Affairs Analyst, sharing his experience in international relations, diplomacy, and national security with public audiences.
Brett McGurk Videos
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What topics does Brett McGurk speak about?
Brett McGurk is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Bipartisan, Crisis Management, Geopolitics, Security & Defense, World Affairs -
Where does Brett McGurk travel from?
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Brett McGurk is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Brett McGurk for your event is available upon request. Brett McGurk generally travels from Washington, DC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Antony Blinken, Dr. David Oualaalou, John Chipman, Edward C. Chow and Victor Cha. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Brett McGurk for an upcoming live or virtual event.
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