Gérard Araud, born on February 20, 1953, is a retired French diplomat with extensive expertise in Middle East affairs and strategic security issues. He holds engineering degrees from the École Polytechnique and the École nationale de la statistique et de l’administration économique (ENSAE), and graduated from the Institut d’études politiques de Paris (Sciences Po) as well as the École nationale d’administration (ENA). Araud began his public service career in 1978 as Deputy Head of the Statistics Department at the Ministry of Transport, advancing through various roles in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Director General for Political and Security Affairs from 2006 to 2009. Throughout his diplomatic career, Araud played pivotal roles in international relations, culminating in his appointments as France's Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 2009 to 2014 and Ambassador to the United States from 2014 to 2019. His tenure bridged major geopolitical eras, starting shortly after Ronald Reagan's election and ending during Donald Trump's presidency. Post-retirement, he published his memoir 'Passeport Diplomatique' in 2019 and a biography of Henry Kissinger, while engaging in advisory and speaking roles on international relations through platforms like his personal website gerardaraud.com, Institut Montaigne, Atlantic Council, and Groupe d'études géopolitiques. He serves as a Senior Advisor at Albright Stonebridge Group.