Robert D. Kaplan

Robert D. Kaplan, a distinguished author and geopolitical analyst, has written sixteen books on foreign affairs and travel, translated into many languages, including "The Revenge of Geography," "Asia’s Cauldron," and "Balkan Ghosts." His work has been widely recognized, with "The Arabists" being named one of the top five books on America’s historical involvement in the Middle East by The Wall Street Journal, and "Asia’s Cauldron" named one of the best political books of 2014 by The Financial Times. He has served as a foreign correspondent for The Atlantic for over three decades, contributing insightful essays that have influenced international policy and debate.

Since 2008, Kaplan has been a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security in Washington, DC, enhancing his role in shaping security and defense policy. His tenure from 2009 to 2011 as a member of the Pentagon’s Defense Policy Board under Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, and his previous appointment as the Class of 1960 Distinguished Visiting Professor in National Security at the United States Naval Academy, highlight his deep engagement with military and strategic affairs. His influential article "The Coming Anarchy" sparked significant discussion and led to an interagency study ordered by President Clinton.

Kaplan's extensive experience as a consultant to various U.S. military and intelligence agencies, including the U.S. Army’s Special Forces, the U.S. Air Force, and the U.S. Marines, underscores his expertise in global security issues. He has also lectured at several military war colleges, the FBI, the National Security Agency, the Pentagon's Joint Staff, the Defense Intelligence Agency, and the CIA. Recognized for his significant contributions, Kaplan received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Connecticut in 2004 and the Benjamin Franklin Public Service Award by the Foreign Policy Research Institute in 2009. His global reporting spans over 100 countries, providing him with a broad and informed perspective on international affairs.