Press Release

David J. Kramer joins the Bush Institute as Managing Director of Global Policy

“I am excited to welcome a global expert of David Kramer’s caliber to our organization. I am confident his extensive work and leadership will be catalytic for our commitment to advancing free societies around the world,” said Ken Hersh, President, and CEO of the George W. Bush Presidential Center.

DALLAS – The George W. Bush Institute announced today that David J. Kramer will join the organization as Managing Director, Global Policy. In this role, Kramer will lead the strategic development of policy and programmatic efforts focused on advancing the overall mission, strategy, and impact of the Bush Institute around the world.

“David Kramer is a world-renowned expert on global issues with a prolific career. He has the unique expertise needed to further build upon our work around advancing free societies with a focus on freedom and democracy, global health, and the advancement of women,” said Holly Kuzmich, Executive Director of the George W. Bush Institute. “David has been an outstanding member of our Institute’s Advisory Council for the Human Freedom Initiative and we look forward to his leadership and critical perspective as we take on the many issues surrounding freedom and democracy at home and abroad.”

A former Assistant Secretary of State in the George W. Bush Administration, Kramer, more recently, served as Senior Fellow, Vaclav Havel Program on Human Rights and Diplomacy, and Director, European and Eurasian Studies, at the Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs at Florida International University (FIU).

“I’m thrilled and honored to be joining the George W. Bush Institute,” Kramer said. “The Institute’s focus on freedom and democracy is most compatible with my own interests and life’s work. I have tremendous respect for the terrific team here and I am proud to join them as we tackle the pressing global issues of the present and future.”

Before starting his tenure at FIU in 2017, Kramer worked in Washington, DC for 24 years, including at The McCain Institute for International Leadership as Senior Director for Human Rights and Democracy. Prior to that, he also served as President of Freedom House. He is also a former Senior Transatlantic Fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

Kramer served almost a decade in the U.S. Department of State in various roles, including as Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor; Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs (responsible for Russia, Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus affairs as well as regional nonproliferation issues); Professional Staff Member in the Secretary’s Office of Policy Planning; and Senior Advisor to the Undersecretary for Global Affairs. He also was Executive Director of the U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy in Washington.

“I am excited to welcome a global expert of David Kramer’s caliber to our organization. I am confident his extensive work and leadership will be catalytic for our commitment to advancing free societies around the world,” said Ken Hersh, President, and CEO of the George W. Bush Presidential Center.

A native of Massachusetts, Kramer received his M.A. in Soviet studies from Harvard University and his bachelor’s degree in Soviet studies and political science from Tufts University. He is the author of the book Back to Containment: Dealing with Putin’s Regime. He will be moving to Dallas for this role.

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About the George W. Bush Institute

Housed within the George W. Bush Presidential Center, the George W. Bush Institute is an action-oriented, nonpartisan policy organization with the mission of developing leaders, advancing policy, and taking action to solve today’s most pressing challenges. Through three Impact Centers – Domestic Excellence, Global Leadership, and an Engagement Agenda – the Bush Institute delivers measurable results that save and improve lives. To learn more, visit www.BushCenter.org.