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Stuart Holliday
Holliday in 2024
CEO of Meridian International Center
Incumbent
Assumed office
2006
Preceded byWalter L. Cutler
Personal details
BornSeptember 7, 1965 (age 59)
SpouseGwen Moore Holliday
Alma materGeorgetown University, London School of Economics and Political Science
OccupationNonprofit President/CEO
ProfessionInternational Affairs/Government
AwardsJoint Service Commendation Medal
Signature
Websitewww.meridian.org
Military service
AllegianceUnited States of America
Branch/serviceU.S. Navy
Years of service1988-1995
Battles/warsOperation Desert Storm

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.[3]

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,[4] the son of United States diplomats.[5] 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 Marseille 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[6] and subsequently an MS degree, also in international affairs, from the London School of Economics and Political Science.[6]

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.[7][8]

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.[9] 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.[9]

Political and government career

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During the first year of George W. Bush's presidency, from 2000 to 2001, Holliday served as Special Assistant to the President and subsequently Associate Director of Presidential Personnel at the White House.[7] After the 9/11 attacks, he aided in staffing the inaugural Office of Homeland Security, which later became the Department of Homeland Security.[8] Thereafter, he worked for the U.S Department of State, as Coordinator for International Information Programs and later Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs.[7]

After a presidential nomination and senate confirmation, Holliday became the United States Ambassador to the United Nations for Special Political Affairs in December 2003, serving in that role until 2005. His work focused primarily on the U.N. Security Council, where he represented the U.S. in discussions of peacekeeping, sanctions and counterterrorism programs.[8]

Post-political career

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After his service as an ambassador, Holliday entered the nonprofit sector. In 2006, he became CEO of Meridian International Center, a role which he occupies presently.[8][10] Under Holliday’s leadership, Meridian has leveraged hundreds of exchanges to strengthen U.S. diplomacy. Since the onset of Holliday’s term, Meridian has notably employed the strategy of open diplomacy. In a 2024 op-ed, Holliday described the concept as “a new decentralized approach to diplomacy,” leveraging untraditional diplomatic actors like local government and private sector leaders.[11]

Holliday also presently serves as the board treasurer of the Blair House Foundation, a nonprofit organization that oversees the physical stewardship of the guest house where the President hosts foreign dignitaries. Holliday also engages in the management of historic properties at Meridian, which occupies two 19th-century houses designed by John Russell Pope.

On May 2, 2022, Holliday was honored with the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur, France's highest and oldest award, by Philippe Étienne, Ambassador of France to the U.S.[12][13] The award and corresponding ceremony intended to highlight Holliday’s longstanding commitment to forging diplomatic and cultural ties between the France and the United States.

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.[14] A few months earlier in March 2024, Holliday appeared on CNN with Jim Acosta to discuss the gang attacks in Haiti.[15] In 2019, Holliday’s piece entitled “Entrepreneurship Is the New Engine of Global Collaboration” was published on the news platform Entrepreneur.[16] In late 2024, Holliday appeared on Acosta's show again to discuss conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.[17]

More previously, Holliday has contributed views on Iran’s Long-term Intentions for Nuclear Negotiations (November 2013),[18] Russia’s Strategy About Public Diplomacy (September 2013),[19] the UN Security Council’s Response to Chemical Weapons in Syria (August 2013),[20] Civil Protests in Turkey (June 2013),[21] President Barack Obama’s visit to the Middle East (March 2013),[22] Israel/Gaza Conflict (November 2012),[23] Delicate Diplomacy in the Middle East (November 2012),[24] and the UN’s Interventions in Libya.[25] He has also been published by Gallup and featured in Vogue.[26][27]

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.

Personal life

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Holliday is married to Gwen Moore Holliday and they have two sons. The couple met in Virginia during the 1992 presidential election and were notably on different sides of the aisle.[28] Vogue covered their bipartisan relationship in 2016.[27]

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. ^ Team, Meridian International Center. "Meridian International Center | Meridian International Center". meridian.org. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  4. ^ "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>
  5. ^ "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>
  6. ^ a b See 5
  7. ^ a b c "Stuart W. Holliday". Council of American Ambassadors. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ a b "Ambassador Stuart Holliday | IVMF". Archived from the original on January 31, 2014. Retrieved February 9, 2014.>
  10. ^ Cutler, Walter (October 2006). "Passing the Baton at Meridian International Center". Washington Life. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  11. ^ Holliday, Stuart (March 21, 2024). "America's next phase of diplomacy requires more than your average diplomat". The Hill.
  12. ^ Lizza, Ryan; Daniels, Eugene (May 3, 2022). "Politico Playbook: Breaking down Alito's Roe bombshell". Politico. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  13. ^ @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.
  14. ^ "Blair House: The President's Guest House". WHHA (en-US). Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ Holliday, Stuart (January 14, 2019). "Entrepreneurship Is the New Engine of Global Collaboration". Entrepreneur. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  17. ^ 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".
  18. ^ "Amb. Holliday: What are Iran's long-term intentions?". Video.foxnews.com. November 15, 2013. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  19. ^ "Russia's strategy on Syria is about 'public diplomacy'". Video.foxnews.com. September 12, 2013. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  20. ^ "CTV News | News Video - Top National News Headlines - News Videos". Ctvnews.ca. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  21. ^ "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.
  22. ^ "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.
  23. ^ "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.
  24. ^ "Cease-fires often fragile in Mideast - Video on NBCNews.com". MSNBC. Archived from the original on November 28, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  25. ^ "Stuart Holliday Interview on Libya, UN Intervention: Video". Bloomberg. March 17, 2011. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  26. ^ "Tale of Two Presidents: Obama and Putin". Gallup.com. April 27, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  27. ^ a b Ruiz, Michelle (May 12, 2016). "How Democrats Married to Republicans Survive Election Season". Vogue. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  28. ^ "Gwen Moore Holliday". DCI Group. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
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