David Hale

Ambassador David Hale is a Distinguished Diplomatic Fellow at the Middle East Institute, after serving as a Foreign Service officer. He writes, speaks, and consults on U.S. foreign policy, including toward the Middle East and South Asia.

He was the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs from August 2018 to May 2021, reporting directly to the Secretary of State. Ambassador Hale was responsible for the conduct of U.S. foreign relations globally. He supervised the Department’s six regional bureaus and the bureau for international organizations, as well as all American embassies, consulates and missions abroad. He interacted regularly with world leaders to advance America’s foreign policy, traveled to over 50 countries in that role, and spoke to a wide variety of audiences. He testified on a global range of topics before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. As a Global Fellow at the Wilson Center (2022-2025), he wrote and made media appearances on foreign policy, with a focus on the Middle East, Afghanistan, and South Asia. His book, "American Diplomacy toward Lebanon: Lessons in Middle East Foreign Policy" was published by Bloomsbury/I.B. Tauris in February 2024 as part of a Middle East Institute policy series. His bi-weekly column appears on the Lebanese online news and opinion outlet, "This is Beirut." His expertise on Lebanon developed over a 35-year span of periodic work there. 

Ambassador Hale holds the lifetime rank of Career Ambassador. A Career Ambassador is Senate-confirmed, the most senior rank in the State Department, and equivalent to a four-star general. He served in the administrations of Presidents Bush, Obama, and Trump as: Ambassador to Pakistan (2015-2018), Ambassador to Lebanon (2013-2015), Special Envoy for Middle East Peace (2011-2013), Deputy Special Envoy (2009-2011), Deputy Assistant Secretary of State covering Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and the Palestinians (2008-2009), Ambassador to Jordan (2005-2008), and Director for Israeli-Palestinian Affairs (2001-2003). In addition to his tours in Jordan and Lebanon as ambassador, he served as a political officer and deputy chief of mission in each post. His other overseas assignments were in Israel, Tunisia, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. He was Secretary Albright's Executive Assistant.

He graduated in 1983 from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. He received one presidential distinguished and two meritorious rank awards; the Secretary of State's distinguished service award; State Department superior and meritorious honor awards; the Philip C. Habib Award for Distinguished Public Service from the American Task Force for Lebanon; and, Jordan's Order of Istiqlal.