The San Diego Diplomacy Council cordially invites you to a Talk-About Event featuring Brett McGurk, former Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS on Thursday, January 16 at San Diego State University Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center at 5:30 pm.

Mr. McGurk will discuss U.S. foreign policy decisions related to the fight against terrorism since 9/11 under the Bush, Obama and Trump Administrations. This event is co-hosted with the Charles W. Hostler Institute on World Affairs and the Center for Advancing Global Business at San Diego State University.

McGurk is the Frank E. and Arthur W. Payne Distinguished Lecturer at Stanford University’s Freeman Spogli Institute. He served as Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS under Presidents Obama and Trump; Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs under President Obama; NSC Senior Director and Special Assistant for National Security Affairs to President George W. Bush, as well as multiple assignments to Iraq and the Middle East. He has received numerous awards including the highest State Department honor from Secretaries of State Condoleezza Rice and John Kerry. McGurk holds a J.D. from Columbia University and a B.A. from the University of Connecticut. He was a Law Clerk to Chief Justice Rehnquist on the Supreme Court’s 2001 term.

Our moderator, Steve Kontos, recently completed a nearly 30-year career with the U.S. Department of State and now works independently, specializing in defense and foreign policy issues. His experience as a Foreign Service officer included coordinating counter-terrorism policy and directing post-conflict assistance programs in the Middle East and Balkans. His latest assignment was as the foreign policy adviser to the U.S. Naval Special Warfare (SEALs) command in San Diego. From 2014 to 2017, he led the State Department team which, on behalf of the Special Presidential Envoy, managed U.S. diplomatic engagement with the more than 70 countries of the Global Coalition seeking to defeat ISIS.

This event is open to the public, but RSVP’s are required. Parking is provided ( See a map attached). A Reception will be held prior to the talk.

Click HERE to RSVP.