David A. Merkel
Visiting Professor
Email: damerkel@gmail.com

Teaching course: The Geopolitics of Energy

Areas of Interest: US Foreign Policy, the geopolitics of energy, international financial issues, Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia, European and Asian Security, and Diplomatic Relations.

Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, Director for European and Eurasian Affairs at the National Security Council in the White House, Director for Central Asian Affairs at the National Security Council, Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Affairs at the U.S. Treasury Department and International Counselor to the Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). He also served as Senior Professional Staff for European and Eurasian Affairs in the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senior Foreign and Defense Policy Advisor to the U.S. House of Representatives Policy Committee and Director at the Eurasia Foundation. In Tajikistan Mr. Merkel worked for JEOMT a joint mission of the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

Mr. Merkel received the Exceptional Service Award from the U.S. Treasury Department, The NATO Star from the President of Lithuania and serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Astana University in Kazakhstan, The Josef Korbel School of International Studies Social Science Foundation and is the Director of the Caspian and Black Sea Policy Forum. He holds degrees in Economics and International Relations and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (London), the Swedish Institute of International Affairs and the International Coronelli Society.