Gary Edson
Encyclopedia
Gary Edson is a former American
government official and entrepreneur. He is currently Chief Executive Officer of the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund
, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on healping Haiti "build back better" after the devastating 2010 earthquake by promoting jobs and economic opportunity.
From 2001 to 2004, Edson served in the administration of George W. Bush
as Deputy National Security Advisor
and Deputy Assistant to the President for International Economic Affairs; he was also Deputy National Economic Advisor. In addition, he was the chief U.S. negotiator or “sherpa” for all presidential summits, including the G8
, APEC, US-EU, and the Summits of the Americas.
Edson co-led the development of the $45 billion President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief
, the largest commitment ever by any nation for an international health initiative. He is also credited with establishing the Millennium Challenge Corporation
(MCC) to fight global poverty. The MCC uses increased aid to reward countries demonstrating a commitment to good governance
.
Edson left government in 2005 because of a serious illness, from which he has since recovered. He was a Managing Director at Stonebridge International
, and currently sits on the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.
One observer described Edson as “brainy” and “impatient… a spicy jalapeno pepper in the midst of the smooth cream cheese” of the White House. Former Secretary of State James A. Baker has called him “indispensable,” noting, "I've never known anybody from whom the taxpayers get a better deal." In her 2011 memoir, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
praises Edson as being "one of the best 'policy engineers' I'd ever known, one of those rare individuals who can take an idea from inception to implementation."
from 1982 to 1985. He headed a private equity
firm, ECG, Inc., which acquired PAR Systems, Inc, a manufacturer of robotics systems, of which Edson was Chairman of the Board.
in 1977, and J.D. and M.B.A. degrees from The University of Chicago
in 1982. He was a Henry Luce Scholar
in Japan, 1977-1978.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
government official and entrepreneur. He is currently Chief Executive Officer of the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund
Clinton Bush Haiti Fund
The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund is a 501 nonprofit organization founded on January 16, 2010, by former U.S. Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, to aid the victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake...
, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on healping Haiti "build back better" after the devastating 2010 earthquake by promoting jobs and economic opportunity.
From 2001 to 2004, Edson served in the administration of George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
as Deputy National Security Advisor
Deputy National Security Advisor
The Assistant to the President and National Security Advisor is a member of the Executive Office of the President of the United States, serving as deputy to the President's National Security Advisor....
and Deputy Assistant to the President for International Economic Affairs; he was also Deputy National Economic Advisor. In addition, he was the chief U.S. negotiator or “sherpa” for all presidential summits, including the G8
G8
The Group of Eight is a forum, created by France in 1975, for the governments of seven major economies: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In 1997, the group added Russia, thus becoming the G8...
, APEC, US-EU, and the Summits of the Americas.
Edson co-led the development of the $45 billion President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief
President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief
The President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief was a commitment of $15 billion over five years from United States President George W. Bush to fight the global HIV/AIDS pandemic...
, the largest commitment ever by any nation for an international health initiative. He is also credited with establishing the Millennium Challenge Corporation
Millennium Challenge Corporation
The Millennium Challenge Corporation is a bilateral United States foreign aid agency created by the George W. Bush administration in 2004, applying a new philosophy towards foreign aid.-Background and formation:...
(MCC) to fight global poverty. The MCC uses increased aid to reward countries demonstrating a commitment to good governance
Good governance
Good governance is an indeterminate term used in development literature to describe how public institutions conduct public affairs and manage public resources in order to guarantee the realization of human rights. Governance describes "the process of decision-making and the process by which...
.
Edson left government in 2005 because of a serious illness, from which he has since recovered. He was a Managing Director at Stonebridge International
Stonebridge International
Stonebridge International is an international advisory firm that helps businesses get a foothold in emerging countries such as Brazil, the People's Republic of China, Russia and India...
, and currently sits on the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.
One observer described Edson as “brainy” and “impatient… a spicy jalapeno pepper in the midst of the smooth cream cheese” of the White House. Former Secretary of State James A. Baker has called him “indispensable,” noting, "I've never known anybody from whom the taxpayers get a better deal." In her 2011 memoir, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice is an American political scientist and diplomat. She served as the 66th United States Secretary of State, and was the second person to hold that office in the administration of President George W. Bush...
praises Edson as being "one of the best 'policy engineers' I'd ever known, one of those rare individuals who can take an idea from inception to implementation."
Early Career
Earlier in his career, Edson served as Chief of Staff and General Counsel to U.S. Trade Representative Carla A. Hills from 1989 to 1992, and Special Assistant to Deputy Secretary of State Kenneth W. DamKenneth W. Dam
Kenneth W. Dam served as Deputy Secretary of the Treasury from 2001 to 2003, where he specialized in international economic development...
from 1982 to 1985. He headed a private equity
Private equity
Private equity, in finance, is an asset class consisting of equity securities in operating companies that are not publicly traded on a stock exchange....
firm, ECG, Inc., which acquired PAR Systems, Inc, a manufacturer of robotics systems, of which Edson was Chairman of the Board.
Education
Edson received a B.A. with honors in anthropology from Stanford UniversityStanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 1977, and J.D. and M.B.A. degrees from The University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
in 1982. He was a Henry Luce Scholar
Henry Luce Scholar
Henry Luce Scholar is a recipient of a cultural exchange and vocational fellowship sponsored by The Henry Luce Foundation, a private foundation established by Time, Inc. founder Henry R. Luce.-The program:...
in Japan, 1977-1978.