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Stuart Holliday

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Stuart W. Holliday (born September 7, 1965)[1] is the CEO of Meridian International Center (Meridian)[2] a nonprofit diplomacy center located in Washington, D.C. The former U.S. Ambassador for Special Political Affairs at the United Nations, Holliday continues to engage in diplomatic activities at Meridian, where he oversees diplomatic exchanges between the U.S. and other countries, often collaborating with the U.S. Department of State, embassies, public and private organizations and leaders worldwide. The organization’s stated goal is to promote diplomatic engagement to overcome shared global challenges, which it achieves through a wide scope of exchange programs.

Stuart Holliday
Holliday in 2024
2nd Coordinator for International Information Programs
In office
May 13, 2002 – December 18, 2003
Preceded byJohn Dwyer
Succeeded byAlexander C. Feldman
Personal details
SpouseGwen Moore Holliday
Alma materGeorgetown University, London School of Economics and Political Science
OccupationNonprofit President/CEO
ProfessionInternational Affairs/Government
AwardsJoint Service Commendation Medal
Websitewww.meridian.org
Military service
AllegianceUnited States of America
Branch/serviceU.S. Navy
Years of service1988-1995
Battles/warsOperation Desert Storm

Aside from his diplomatic work, Holliday has been deeply involved in politics, having served as Special Assistant to President George W. Bush, and Associate Director of Presidential Personnel.

Early life and education

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Stuart Holliday was born in Blantyre, Malawi,[3] the son of United States diplomats.[4] His father served as the press attaché at the U.S. Embassy in France and later special assistant to Ambassador to France Sargent Shriver. After leaving Malawi, the family moved to France, where they lived in Marseilles and later Paris before eventually moving to the United States.

Holliday attended Avon Old Farms School in Avon, Connecticut. He obtained a BS degree in international affairs from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University[5] and subsequently an MS degree, also in international affairs, from the London School of Economics and Political Science.[5]

Early career

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Holliday joined the United States Navy in 1988, serving as an Officer until 1995 on active and reserve duty. He served in Operation Desert Storm, for which he received the Joint Service Commendation Medal.[6][7]

Holliday began his political career while he was serving as a reservist in the Navy. During President George H. W. Bush’s term, Holliday worked on presidential advance, supporting presidential travel and events. Later, during the 1992 election, Holliday joined the president’s re-election bid, where he worked under John McCain, who was chair of veterans for the Bush campaign.  

From 1993 to 1995, Holliday was Regional Director for North Africa, the Middle East and Turkey at the International Republican Institute.[8] In 1996, he joined the Dallas Council on World Affairs as its executive director, a role he held into 1997.[2] From 1998 to 2000, he was the Assistant Policy Director in Texas for then Governor George W. Bush.[8]

Political career and foreign affairs

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During the first year of George W. Bush's presidency, from 2000 to 2001, Holliday was Special Assistant to the President and Associate Director of Presidential Personnel at the White House.[6] After the September 11 attacks, he collaborated in staffing the first Office of Homeland Security with government agencies.[7] Thereafter, he served as Coordinator for International Information Programs for the U.S. Department of State as well as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs.[6]

Holliday became the United States Ambassador to the United Nations for Special Political Affairs in December 2003, serving in that role until 2005, with a focus on the U.N. Security Council.[7]

Post-political career

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After his service as an ambassador, Holliday became affiliated with Quinn Gillespie & Associates.[6][9] In 2006, he became President and CEO of Meridian International Center.[7][10] On May 2, 2022, Holliday was honored with the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur, France's highest and oldest award, by His Excellency Philippe Étienne, Ambassador of France to the U.S.[11][12]

Public and media appearances

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Holliday frequently speaks on international issues on the public stage. He has contributed at a plethora of live events at international conferences and other convenings, both as a guest speaker and as a moderator of roundtable discussions. His appearances have included:

Holliday is a periodical media commenter as well, having provided perspectives in major media outlets. In July 2024, Holliday was featured in The White House 1600 Sessions, a podcast produced by the White House Historical Association, where he spoke about his work with the Blair House Foundation.[13] A few months earlier in March 2024, Holliday appeared on CNN with Jim Acosta to discuss the gang attacks in Haiti.[14] In 2019, Holliday’s piece entitled “Entrepreneurship Is the New Engine of Global Collaboration” was published on the news platform Entrepreneur.[15] In late 2024, Holliday appeared on Acosta's show again to discuss conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.[16]

More previously, Holliday has contributed views on Iran’s Long-term Intentions for Nuclear Negotiations (November 2013),[17] Russia’s Strategy About Public Diplomacy (September 2013),[18] the UN Security Council’s Response to Chemical Weapons in Syria (August 2013),[19] Civil Protests in Turkey (June 2013),[20] President Barack Obama’s visit to the Middle East (March 2013),[21] Israel/Gaza Conflict (November 2012),[22] Delicate Diplomacy in the Middle East (November 2012),[23] and the UN’s Interventions in Libya.[24] He has also been published by Gallup and featured in Vogue.[25][26]

Holliday also produces content for Meridian, including his podcast, cultureXchanges, in which he interviews diplomatically relevant individuals, such as chef and TV personality Pati Jinich, and artists Hank Willis Thomas and Jeff Koons. Additionally, he regularly contributes written pieces to Meridian’s website, including op-eds on topics like space diplomacy, geopolitical resilience and open diplomacy.

Published works

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Holliday has written broadly on international issues over thirty years, with a focus on the development of civil society in the Middle East and North Africa. His published works include papers on Oman, Yemen, and the Western Sahara in 1994, an IRI Fact-Finding Mission to the Western Sahara (1993), and Oman and Popular Participation in Government (1995).

In addition, Holliday writes op-eds on foreign policy issues and international affairs.[27]

Speaking engagements

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Holliday often speaks at international conferences and moderates roundtable discussions on major international issues, including:

Personal life

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Holliday is married to Gwen Moore Holliday, Vice President of DCI Group and they have two sons.[30]

References

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  1. ^ "Stuart W. Holliday". U.S. Department of State. June 24, 2002. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Stuart Holliday." Our Leadership. The Meridian International Center, n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2014. <1. http://www.meridian.org/merdian/our-leadership/item/69-stuart-holiday [permanent dead link]>
  3. ^ "Stuart W Holliday." Bios. The United States Department of State, 2002. Web. 11 Feb. 2014. <http://2001-2009.state.gov/outofdate/bios/h/11383.htm>
  4. ^ "Holliday Nurtures Leadership As Helm of Meridian Center." The Washington Diplomat, 2 Oct. 2013. Web. 11 Feb. 2014. <http://washdiplomat.com/index.php?option=com_content&id=9596:holliday-nurtures-leadership-as-helm-of-meridian-center&Itemid=428>
  5. ^ a b See 5
  6. ^ a b c d "Stuart W. Holliday". Council of American Ambassadors. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  7. ^ a b c d "Ambassador Stuart Holliday". Syracuse University Institute for Veterans and Military Families. Archived from the original on January 31, 2014. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  8. ^ a b "Ambassador Stuart Holliday | IVMF". Archived from the original on January 31, 2014. Retrieved February 9, 2014.>
  9. ^ QGA Public Affairs. Quinn Gillespie & Associates, n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2014. <http://www.qga.com/>
  10. ^ Cutler, Walter (October 2006). "Passing the Baton at Meridian International Center". Washington Life. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  11. ^ Lizza, Ryan; Daniels, Eugene (May 3, 2022). "Politico Playbook: Breaking down Alito's Roe bombshell". Politico. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  12. ^ @ph_etienne (May 3, 2022). "Felicitations et merci @AMBSHolliday on your decoration…" (Tweet). Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved July 21, 2023 – via Twitter.
  13. ^ "Blair House: The President's Guest House". WHHA (en-US). Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  14. ^ Acosta, Jim (March 18, 2024). "First Flight of Americans Fleeing the Chaos in Haiti Landed in Miami; Police Stations in Haiti Vulnerable to Gang Violence; Militants in Port-au-Prince Fight Gangs with Machetes; Social Media Posts Heated Lemon and Musk Interview; March Madness Featuring 68 Men's Basketball Teams. Aired 10:30-11a ET". CNN.
  15. ^ Holliday, Stuart (January 14, 2019). "Entrepreneurship Is the New Engine of Global Collaboration". Entrepreneur. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  16. ^ Acosta, Jim (September 2, 2024). "Biden, Harris to Meet in Situation Room About Hostage Talks; Israeli President Asks Slain American Hostage's Family for Forgiveness; Fury in Israel as Protesters Demand Netanyahu Make Deal. Aired 10-10:30a ET".
  17. ^ "Amb. Holliday: What are Iran's long-term intentions?". Video.foxnews.com. November 15, 2013. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  18. ^ "Russia's strategy on Syria is about 'public diplomacy'". Video.foxnews.com. September 12, 2013. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  19. ^ "CTV News | News Video - Top National News Headlines - News Videos". Ctvnews.ca. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  20. ^ "Amb. Holliday: Turkish PM should be willing to 'reach out' | On Air Videos | Fox News". Video.foxnews.com. June 11, 2013. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  21. ^ "Fmr. Ambassador Holliday: President Obama's meeting with Palestinian President Abbas 'a significant visit' – Early Start with John Berman & Zoraida Sambolin - CNN.com Blogs". Earlystart.blogs.cnn.com. Archived from the original on December 13, 2013. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  22. ^ "Will new Gaza border violence threaten ceasefire? Fmr. Amb Stuart Holliday weighs in – Early Start with John Berman & Zoraida Sambolin - CNN.com Blogs". Earlystart.blogs.cnn.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  23. ^ "Cease-fires often fragile in Mideast - Video on NBCNews.com". MSNBC. Archived from the original on November 28, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  24. ^ "Stuart Holliday Interview on Libya, UN Intervention: Video". Bloomberg. March 17, 2011. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  25. ^ "Tale of Two Presidents: Obama and Putin". Gallup.com. April 27, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  26. ^ Ruiz, Michelle (May 12, 2016). "How Democrats Married to Republicans Survive Election Season". Vogue. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  27. ^ "Stuart W. Holliday: Public Diplomacy That Lasts: The Value of International Visitor Exchanges". Huffingtonpost.com. February 27, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  28. ^ "Country Promotion Strategies Conference - November 12, 2013". Meridian.org. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  29. ^ "The World in 2050: Talent Mobility and the Future of Jobs". Diplomatic Courier. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  30. ^ "Gwen Moore Holliday". DCI Group. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
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