About
At a glance:
President and CEO, Amideast and former U.S. Ambassador
Research Areas:
Diplomatic Studies
Middle East
North Africa
International Education
Biography:
is the President and CEO of Amideast, a leading non-profit organization engaged in international education, training and development activities in the Middle East and North Africa.
Ambassador Holtz was a career United States diplomat for 35 years. Leadership positions include U.S. Ambassador to Oman, Charg茅 d鈥檃ffaires in Doha, Qatar, Senior U. S. Coordinator for Operations Allies Refuge (OAR) in Doha, Qatar, Minister-Counselor for Provincial Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Consul General in Damascus, Syria, and Principal Officer in Adana, Turkey. Domestic leadership positions include Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Senior Foreign Policy Advisor (POLAD) to the Commanding General of U.S. Special Operations Command, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Strategic Communication in the Near Eastern Affairs bureau, and as the United States Coordinator for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Ambassador Holtz served as the Chancellor of the College of International Security Affairs at the National Defense University from January 2022-August 2023, and as the Vice Chancellor on detail from the State Department from 2016-2017.
Additional foreign service assignments include postings in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Tunisia, Director of the Middle East Partnership Initiative, and as a Senior Watch Officer in the State Department鈥檚 Executive Secretariat鈥檚 Operations Center.
Ambassador (ret) Holtz received a B.S. in political science from Vanderbilt University, an M.A. in International Relations from the University of Kentucky鈥檚 Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce, and an M.S. in National Security Studies from the National War College. Ambassador Holtz speaks French, Arabic, and Turkish.
Ambassador Holtz is the recipient of numerous State Department awards, including State Department Senior Performance awards, Superior Honor Awards, and was nominated for a Presidential Honor Award. She received the Joint Civilian Service Achievement Award and the Joint Civilian Service Commendation award from National Defense University, the Joint Meritorious Civilian Service Award from U.S. Special Operations Command, as well as the Christopher medallion from the Central Intelligence Agency. She is the recipient of the Vanderbilt University Phi Alpha Theta Distinguished Alumnus Award.
Ambassador Holtz is a member of the American Academy of Diplomacy and serves on the boards of non-profits Spirit of America and the Marshall Legacy Fund.
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