Matthew Bryza

Ambassador Matthew Bryza completed a 23-year career as a U.S. diplomat in 2012, culminating as Ambassador to Azerbaijan. Earlier, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State (2005-2009) and Director on the National Security Council Staff at the White House (2001- 2005) for Turkey, Cyprus, Greece, Central Asia, and the South Caucasus. During the latter period, he concurrently served as the US mediator of the Nagorno-Karabakh, South Ossetia, Abkhazia, and Cyprus conflicts. During 1998 to 2001, Ambassador Bryza was the Deputy Special Advisor to the President and Secretary of State on Caspian Basin Energy Security. Bryza also served in the U.S. Missions to Russia (1995-1997) and Poland (1989-1991). Currently, Ambassador Bryza serves on the Boards of energy, engineering, and telecommunications companies operating from the Greater Caspian Region to Texas. Simultaneously, Bryza is managing director of the Istanbul office of Ballard Partners, a major US and lobbying and public affairs firm that helps companies navigate political and legislative issues. He is also a Board Member of the Jamestown Foundation, a think tank headquartered in Washington, DC. He was Director of the International Center for Defense and Security in Tallinn, Estonia, during 2012-2015, where he founded the Center’s energy security and cyber security programs. He is a frequent commentator in media outlets including CNN International, Al Jazeera, The BBC, Fox News, The Financial Times, Washington Post, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and Chicago Tribune, as well as numerous outlets in Turkey and the South Caucasus. Bryza is the recipient of Estonia’s Cross of Terra Mariana and Georgia’s Order of St. George. He received his bachelor’s degree in international relations from Stanford University and his master’s degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.