Speaker Series

WACLV Speaker Series

The World Affairs Council of Las Vegas Event & Speaker Series host networking events featuring country leaders, distinguished authors, international policymakers and thought leaders. Our events provide members and our guests an opportunity to connect with other Las Vegans while getting “behind the scenes” insight on important topical issues in international affairs.

WACLV Upcoming Speaker Event

This Event Has Been Postponed

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The Wilson Center in partnership with the World Affairs Council of Las Vegas, Michael
and Sonja Saltman and the Saltman Center for Conflict Resolution, invite you to attend a
panel discussion featuring Wilson Center experts Ambassador James Jeffrey and
Ambassador David Hale, moderated by founder and publisher of

The Nevada Independent, Jon Ralston.

Featured Panel Member's Bio: Ambassador Jeffrey

Ambassador James F. Jeffrey joined the Wilson Center in December 2020 as Chair of the Middle East Program. Ambassador Jeffrey served as the Secretary’s Special Representative for Syria Engagement and the Special Envoy to the Global Coalition To Defeat ISIS until November 8, 2020. He is a senior American diplomat with experience in political, security, and energy issues in the Middle East, Turkey, Germany, and the Balkans.

He has held senior assignments in Washington, DC, and abroad, including as Deputy National Security Advisor (2007–2008); United States Ambassador to Iraq (2010–2012); United States Ambassador to Turkey (2008–2010); and United States Ambassador to Albania (2002–2004). In 2010 Jeffrey was appointed to the highest rank in the US Foreign Service, Career Ambassador. From 1969 to 1976, Jeffrey was a US Army infantry officer, with service in Germany and Vietnam.

Featured Panel Member's Bio: Ambassador Hale. David Hale Global Fellow with the Wilson Center after serving as a foreign service officer with the rank of Career Ambassador. He was Under Secretary of State from 2018-2021. Previously, he was the Ambassador to Pakistan (2015-18), Ambassador to Lebanon (2013-15), Special Envoy for Middle East Peace (2011-2013), Deputy Special Envoy (2009-11), and Ambassador to Jordan (2005-8). Earlier, he had multiple tours in Jordan and Lebanon and served in Tunisia, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and at the U.S. Mission to the UN. In Washington, Hale was Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Israel, Egypt and the Levant (2008-9) and Director for

Israel-Palestinian Affairs (2001-3). He held several staff posts, including Executive Assistant to Secretary of State Albright. Hale joined the Foreign Service in 1984. He is a recipient of one Presidential Rank Award of Distinguished Service and two of Meritorious Service, and several Department Superior and Meritorious Honor awards.

He speaks Arabic, is a graduate of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, and a native of New Jersey.

Moderator Jon Ralston: Jon has been covering politics in Nevada for more than 30 years. His blog, Ralston Reports, was founded in 2012 and now lives on The Nevada Independent website. Jon wrote for the Las Vegas Review-Journal for 15 years, the last seven as a freelance columnist. In 1999, Greenspun Media Group purchased his political newsletter, The Ralston Report, and hired him as a columnist for the Las Vegas Sun where his byline appeared until September 2012. He was also a columnist for the Reno Gazette-Journal

from January 2015 until November 2016, when he left to start The Indy. Over the years, Jon has hosted several TV programs, including "Ralston Live" on Vegas PBS and "Ralston Reports" on KSNV News 3. He also writes and publishes a Nevada-centric email newsletter called "Flash" that frames the political agenda for the day, breaks news and offers analysis and snark. In 2012, Politico named Jon one of the Top 50 "Politicos to Watch." He frequently appears on MSNBC, FOX News, and PBS, and he has also appeared on NBC's long-running "Meet the Press."