Leon Fuerth
Encyclopedia
Leon Sigmund Fuerth is a former diplomat who served as national security adviser to former U.S. Vice President
Al Gore
. He was succeeded in that capacity by I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby in January 2001. Fuerth now directs The Project on Forward Engagement
at The George Washington University, where he also serves as a professor of international affairs
.
in English and an M.A.
in History from New York University
. He earned an M.P.A. from Harvard after serving as an officer in the United States Air Force
.
After working for Congressman Les Aspin
as staff director of the sub-committee on covert action in the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Fuerth spent many years working for Al Gore
in a variety of capacities. In the 1980s he worked for Congressman Gore on issues such as arms control and stability. In 1985 Fuerth joined Gore's senatorial staff where he also worked on issues of national security.
in both the National Security Council
and the National Economic Council. During his tenure he worked on issues relating to the following countries: South Africa
, Russia
, Egypt
, Ukraine
and Kazakhstan
. His former experiences as a foreign service officer in the Balkans proved useful in his pursuit of sanctions http://store.yahoo.com/expandnato/fuerth.html against Milosevic's regime in Serbia
. Through his management of a bilateral commission with South Africa, Fuerth also spent time fighting the spread of AIDS. He would have likely been named Presidential National Security Advisor
, had Gore prevailed in the 2000 election.
at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
. In this capacity, he teaches graduate students and works to develop the concept of "forward engagement," with support from both the university and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund
. The Project on Forward Engagement
seeks to develop the means to incorporate systematic long-range thinking into national and global policymaking. Fuerth continues to be active in the Democratic Party
, and acted as a foreign policy adviser to Howard Dean
during his 2004 Presidential candidacy. He is also a guiding coalition member of the Project on National Security Reform
.
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
. He was succeeded in that capacity by I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby in January 2001. Fuerth now directs The Project on Forward Engagement
The Project on Forward Engagement
Forward Engagement is a term coined by Leon Fuerth, former National Security Advisor to Vice President Al Gore, to describe the process of thinking systematic about long-range issues in governance...
at The George Washington University, where he also serves as a professor of international affairs
International relations
International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
.
Education
Fuerth has a B.A.Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in English and an M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in History from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
. He earned an M.P.A. from Harvard after serving as an officer in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
.
Early career
Prior to beginning work on Capitol Hill in 1979, Fuerth spent eleven years as a foreign service officer with the State Department. His diplomatic posts included the U.S. Consulate General in Zagreb, Yugoslavia. He also worked in the office of the Counselor of the Department; the Bureau of Intelligence and Research; and in both the Bureau of Political Military Affairs and the Bureau of European Affairs in several capacities. He became a resource for strategic intelligence (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear weapons); arms control; Soviet and Warsaw Pact affairs; and NATO.After working for Congressman Les Aspin
Les Aspin
Leslie "Les" Aspin, Jr. was a United States Representative from 1971 to 1993, and the United States Secretary of Defense under President Bill Clinton from January 21, 1993 to February 3, 1994.-Early life:...
as staff director of the sub-committee on covert action in the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Fuerth spent many years working for Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
in a variety of capacities. In the 1980s he worked for Congressman Gore on issues such as arms control and stability. In 1985 Fuerth joined Gore's senatorial staff where he also worked on issues of national security.
White House Career
When Gore became Vice President in January, 1993, Fuerth became his national security adviser. He operated, by Presidential order, as a full member of the Principals and Deputies CommitteesNational Security Council Deputies Committee
The National Security Council Deputies Committee is a committee of the United States National Security Council comprising the deputies to senior members of the United States Cabinet. Outside the cabinet, it is the highest level interagency committee dealing with issues of national security. The...
in both the National Security Council
United States National Security Council
The White House National Security Council in the United States is the principal forum used by the President of the United States for considering national security and foreign policy matters with his senior national security advisors and Cabinet officials and is part of the Executive Office of the...
and the National Economic Council. During his tenure he worked on issues relating to the following countries: South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
and Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
. His former experiences as a foreign service officer in the Balkans proved useful in his pursuit of sanctions http://store.yahoo.com/expandnato/fuerth.html against Milosevic's regime in Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
. Through his management of a bilateral commission with South Africa, Fuerth also spent time fighting the spread of AIDS. He would have likely been named Presidential National Security Advisor
National Security Advisor (United States)
The Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, commonly referred to as the National Security Advisor , serves as the chief advisor to the President of the United States on national security issues...
, had Gore prevailed in the 2000 election.
Academic career
Upon leaving public service, Fuerth joined academia. He is presently a research professor at the Elliott School of International AffairsElliott School of International Affairs
The Elliott School of International Affairs at the George Washington University is a professional school in international relations. It is located in the heart of Washington, D.C...
at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. In this capacity, he teaches graduate students and works to develop the concept of "forward engagement," with support from both the university and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund
Rockefeller Brothers Fund
The Rockefeller Brothers Fund , , is an international philanthropic organisation created and run by members of the Rockefeller family. It was set up in New York City in 1940 as the primary philanthropic vehicle of the five famous Rockefeller brothers: John D...
. The Project on Forward Engagement
The Project on Forward Engagement
Forward Engagement is a term coined by Leon Fuerth, former National Security Advisor to Vice President Al Gore, to describe the process of thinking systematic about long-range issues in governance...
seeks to develop the means to incorporate systematic long-range thinking into national and global policymaking. Fuerth continues to be active in the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, and acted as a foreign policy adviser to Howard Dean
Howard Dean
Howard Brush Dean III is an American politician and physician from Vermont. He served six terms as the 79th Governor of Vermont and ran unsuccessfully for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination. He was chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2005 to 2009. Although his U.S...
during his 2004 Presidential candidacy. He is also a guiding coalition member of the Project on National Security Reform
Project on National Security Reform
The Project on National Security Reform is a nonpartisan non-profit organization mandated by the United States Congress to recommend improvements to the U.S. national security system. Advocates of reform of the U.S...
.
External links
- George Washington University biography of Fuerth
- Leon Fuerth's Project on Forward Engagement: Official Site
- "A Gore Adviser Who Basks in the Shadows" Elaine Sciolino, The New York Times, April 25, 2000.
- "Thinking about the Future: A Conversation with Leon Fuerth" Institute of International Studies, UC Berkeley, February 7, 2005