Dennis B. Ross (born 1948) is an American diplomat, author, and expert on Middle East policy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, and the Middle East peace process. He served as a special Middle East coordinator and special envoy under multiple U.S. presidents, including George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama, and is known for his central role in Arab-Israeli peace negotiations. He began his government service in the late 1970s as a member of the policy planning staff at the U.S. State Department and was the founding director of the State Department's Office of Net Assessment. Under President George H. W. Bush, he was Director of the Policy Planning Staff and played a pivotal role in the 1991 Madrid Peace Conference. During the Clinton administration, he served as Special Middle East Coordinator from 1993 to 2001, leading U.S. efforts in the Oslo Accords, the Camp David Summit, and subsequent negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. In 2009, he returned to public service as Special Assistant to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and led the Middle East policy team at the State Department until 2011, also serving as a special assistant to the president on the region. Ross is known for his advocacy of a two-state solution and has been criticized by some for perceived bias toward Israel in the peace process.

After leaving government, Ross continued to influence U.S. Middle East policy through think tanks and advisory roles. He is a counselor and Ziegler distinguished fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP), which he helped found in 1985, and frequently advises on U.S.-Israel relations. Ross has authored several books, including 'The Missing Peace: The Inside Story of the Fight for Middle East Peace' (2004) and 'Doomed to Succeed: The U.S.-Israel Relationship from Truman to Obama' (2015), providing insights into his diplomatic experiences. He became religiously observant as a Jew following the 1967 Six-Day War, which shaped his deep involvement in Israeli-Palestinian issues.

Ross's career reflects a commitment to American interests in the Middle East, often navigating complex alliances and conflicts. He has been involved in non-governmental efforts, such as serving on the U.S. Advisory Council for the Israel Policy Forum, and remains active in commentary and analysis through media and institutions like the Jewish Institute for National Security of America.