Charting a Path for US Policy toward Syria, ISIS and Across the Middle East

syriaAmbassador Theodore Kattouf, President and CEO of AMIDEAST (America-MidEast Educational and Training Services, Inc.) Weds., Apr. 8, 7 p.m. Marist College, Hancock Rm. 2023. Ambassador Kattouf joined the Foreign Service in 1972 and from 1973 to 1975 served in Kuwait as an economic and commercial officer. Following Kuwait, he attended the Foreign Service Arabic Language Program in Beirut and Tunis before being assigned as a political officer to Damascus. Mr. Kattouf then returned to the United States to serve as a Middle East analyst in the State Department.

From 1983 to 1986, Mr. Kattouf served in Baghdad as Deputy Chief of Mission. He then served in Sanaa, one year as Deputy Chief of Mission, and one year as Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Mr. Kattouf returned to the United States in 1988 to serve as Deputy Director and subsequently Director of the Office of Lebanon, Jordan and Syrian Affairs. In 1992, he returned overseas, first as Deputy Chief of Mission in Damascus, then as Deputy Chief of Mission in Riyadh, where he served from 1995 to 1998. President Clinton nominated Mr. Kattouf as Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates and was confirmed by the Senate in September 1998. He was then nominated by President Bush as Ambassador to Syria and confirmed by the Senate in August 2001.

During his career Ambassador Kattouf has received the Cobb Award for outstanding advocacy efforts on behalf of U.S. companies abroad, two Meritorious Honor Awards, four Senior Performance Awards, and one Presidential Honor Award. He was also named runner-up as DCM of the Year for 1996. He speaks English and Arabic. He is married to Jeannie (Ajay) Kattouf and has one daughter and three sons, Jennifer, Jonathan, Paul, and Michael. He is also the proud grandfather of four boys.

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