Richard Goldberg
Person·government·AI Enriched
Relationships:3
Events:0
Library:3
Confidence:
100%
Key Facts
Type
Person
Sector
government
Industry
Not specified
Status
Draft
Country
USA
Nationality
American
Birth Date
Not specified
Death Date
Not specified
Sex
Not specified
Also Known As
No alternate names
Tags
Policy AdvisorGovernment OfficialSanctions ExpertAuthorNaval Officer
Overall Confidence
100%
Internal Notes
No notes
Career & Education
Positions
Senior Advisor
Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD)
2020 - Present
Director for Countering Iranian Weapons of Mass Destruction
National Security Council (NSC), The White House
2019 - 2020
Senior Advisor
Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD)
2017 - 2019
Chief of Staff
U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL)
2012 - 2017
Deputy Chief of Staff
U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL)
2011 - 2012
Senior Policy Advisor
U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL)
2010 - 2011
Lieutenant
U.S. Navy Reserve
2005
Chief of Staff
Illinois State Senator Kirk Dillard
2002 - 2005
Policy Director
Governor George Ryan (Illinois)
1999 - 2002
Education
J.D.
University of Chicago Law School
Law
2005 - 2008
B.A.
University of Pennsylvania
Political Science
1995 - 1999
About
Richard Goldberg is a prominent American foreign policy expert and Senior Advisor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), a non-partisan research institute. He is widely recognized for his expertise in national security, particularly concerning Iran and the implementation of sanctions. Goldberg served as the Director for Countering Iranian Weapons of Mass Destruction on the National Security Council (NSC) from 2019 to 2020 during the Trump administration, where he was instrumental in developing and executing the "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran. He is also a former White House official, known for his role in shaping U.S. policy on Iran and sanctions.
Key Relationships
Howard Kohr
secret_meeting
Howard Kohr held secret meetings with Richard Goldberg to coordinate AIPAC's lobbying efforts with FDD's policy advocacy on Iran sanctions and military aid to Israel. These meetings were used to align messaging, target key policymakers, and shape legislative initiatives without public disclosure of their collaboration.
Since 2015
David Schenker
collaborated
David Schenker and Richard Goldberg have collaborated closely on Middle East policy, particularly regarding Iran. Goldberg, a senior advisor at FDD and a key architect of the Trump administration's Iran policy, worked with Schenker on strategies to counter Iranian influence in the region, including during Goldberg's tenure at the National Security Council. Both shared a hawkish stance on Iran and worked to advance the Trump administration's maximum pressure campaign, employing sanctions and diplomatic pressure to isolate Iran. Their collaboration involved designing and implementing sanctions targeting Iran's economy and military, and extended to advocacy efforts, including joint op-eds and policy recommendations. Schenker used Goldberg as an intermediary to coordinate U.S. policy on Iran with hardline factions in the Trump administration, including John Bolton and Mike Pompeo. Goldberg, a former NSC official, acted as a fixer between Schenker and pro-Israel lobbying groups, such as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and FDD, to push for sanctions and military pressure on Iran. Their coordination, which was not publicly disclosed, also involved discussions on the Abraham Accords. Their partnership spans both government and think tank roles.
Since 2018
Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD)
advisor
Goldberg serves as a key bridge between FDD and the Trump administration's 'Maximum Pressure' campaign. After leaving the NSC in 2020, he returned to FDD and later served as a senior counselor for the White House National Energy Dominance Council through August 2025, while maintaining his FDD affiliation.
Since 2020