Edward Peck

Early life and career

Born to immigrant parents, Ambassador Edward Peck served as Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs in the Nixon Administration, January 1971. He was Chief of Mission in Mauritania and in Iraq, and later held senior posts in Washington and abroad. He also served as a Foreign Service Officer in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt. At the State Department he served as Deputy Director of Covert Intelligence Programs, Director of the Office of Egyptian Affairs. He served as Deputy Director of the White House Task Force on Terrorism in the Reagan Administration. He is president of Foreign Services International, a consulting firm that works with governments, businesses and educational institutions across the world.

In retirement, he has served as Executive Secretary, American Academy of Diplomacy; Chair of Political Tradecraft Programs, National Foreign Affairs Training Center; Distinguished Visitor, National War College; Visiting Fellow, Woodrow Wilson Foundation; Senior Fellow, Joint Forces Staff College; and board member, Americans for Middle East Understanding.

He has presented programs on International Relations for the Foreign Ministries of Thailand and Malaysia, and has spoken in the US Capitol, the Israeli Knesset, UN headquarters, and UN conferences in Beijing and Caracas.

Ambassador Peck is a regular speaker at US Department of Defense schools, universities, World Affairs Councils, and cruise lines. He has made more than 100 world affairs appearances on television and radio in the US and other countries. People Magazine named him a "Top Ten Commentator" during the first Gulf War.

A paratrooper, he had two U.S. tours of active duty in World War II and Korea, advancing from Private to 1st Lieutenant. He holds a BS from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and an MBA from George Washington University in Washington, DC.

Concerns overs plan to invade Iraq and of Middle East policy

Edward Peck argued against invading Iraq, asking "when you take out Saddam Hussein, what happens after that? Nobody knows, but it's probably going to be bad. A lot of people are going to be very upset, because our role in this world does not include deciding who rules Iraq." Peck believes U.S. Middle East policy should be more balanced and even-handed. He urges a dialogue with and between all parties as the most productive way to resolve the region's problems, which are large, numerous and contentious.

Personal Life

Edward Peck resides in Chevy Chase, Maryland, with his wife Ann. He is the father of four (now grown) children.