Joseph Adam Ereli (born 1960)[2] is an American lobbyist, who formerly served as a diplomat and ambassador.

J. Adam Ereli
United States Ambassador to Bahrain
In office
28 June 2007 – January 14, 2011[1]
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Barack Obama
Preceded byWilliam T. Monroe
Succeeded byThomas C. Krajeski
Personal details
Born1960 (age 63–64)
Alma materYale University;
Tufts University

Early life and diplomatic career

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Mr. Ereli earned a B.A. in History from Yale University in 1982 and an M.A. in International Relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University in 1989. Before entering the Foreign Service, he worked as a journalist and human rights activist in Paris, France.

In 1989, Ereli joined the U.S. Foreign Service. During postings abroad, he served in Africa and the Middle East, including in Cairo, Egypt; Damascus, Syria; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Sanaa, Yemen; and Baghdad, Iraq.[3][2] In 2000–2003, Ereli was the deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Doha, Qatar.[4] Ereli was sworn in as the 15th United States ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain on June 28, 2007, and held that post until 2011.

During postings in Washington, he served as the director of the Office of Press and Public Affairs in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, and as deputy spokesman of the Department of State (2003–2006).[2] His final position at the State Department, after being ambassador to Bahrain, was as principal deputy assistant Secretary of State for educational and cultural affairs.[5]

Ereli left government service after 24 years, in 2013.[6]

Lobbying

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Since 2013, Ereli has been a lobbyist, working to promote the interests of foreign governments, including Qatar, where he had previously served as a U.S. diplomat.[4][7]

He began his new career by joining Mercury, a lobbying firm in Washington, DC, to serve as its vice chairman between 2013 and 2016.[5] In 2016, he became the CEO of IberoAmerican, another consulting group.[8]

Ereli has also been involved with Middle East focused think tanks in Washington, including as a board member of the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (TIMEP).[6] Until its closure in 2019, he also served as a board member of the Arabia Foundation, described as a "pro-Saudi" think tank.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "Joseph Adam Ereli - People - Department History - Office of the Historian".
  2. ^ a b c Ereli, J Adam. "Ereli, J. Adam". U.S. State Department (archived). Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  3. ^ Ereli, Adam. "AllGov - Officials". AllGov. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  4. ^ a b ""Ereli, Adam"". Revolving Doors. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  5. ^ a b Bogardus, Kevin (September 3, 2013). "Lobby shop hires former Bahrain ambassador". The Hill. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  6. ^ a b ""Adam Ereli"". TIMEP. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  7. ^ "FARA filing of Adam Ereli, March 6, 2015" (PDF). Foreign Agents Registration Act. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  8. ^ "Ambassador Adam Ereli". Scholar Rescue Fund. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  9. ^ Gangitano, Alex (August 1, 2019). "Pro-Saudi Arabia think tank abruptly closes in Washington". The Hill. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
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  Media related to J. Adam Ereli at Wikimedia Commons

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by United States Ambassador to Bahrain
June 28, 2007–June 2011
Succeeded by