Ambassador Matthew Bryza

Ambassador Matthew Bryza is Managing Director at Straife, where he helps clients navigate complex geopolitical challenges. He serves on the boards of energy and telecommunications companies operating from the greater Caspian region to Texas, and is also a Board Member of the Jamestown Foundation, a Washington, DC–based think tank.

Previously, Ambassador Bryza was Director of the International Centre for Defense and Security in Tallinn, Estonia, where he founded its energy security and cyber security programs. He concluded a 23-year career as a U.S. diplomat in 2012, having served as U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan.

From 2005 to 2009, he was Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, and from 2001 to 2005 he served on the National Security Council staff at the White House, responsible for U.S. relations with Turkey, Cyprus, Greece, Central Asia, and the South Caucasus. Between 1998 and 2001, he was Deputy Special Advisor to the President and Secretary of State on Caspian Basin Energy Security. Earlier diplomatic postings included service at U.S. Missions in Russia (1995–1997) and Poland (1989–1991).

Ambassador Bryza is a frequent commentator for international and U.S. media, including CNN International, Al Jazeera, BBC, Fox News, the Financial Times, Washington Post, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and the Chicago Tribune, as well as numerous outlets in Turkey and the South Caucasus.

He has been honored with Estonia's Cross of Terra Mariana and Georgia's Order of St. George. Ambassador Bryza holds a bachelor's degree in international relations from Stanford University and a master's degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.