Michael A. Cohen is a senior fellow at the
New America Foundation where he co-helms the Privatization of Foreign Policy
Initiative, which examines the growing influence and impact of non-state actors
in U.S. foreign policy. He is also the author of Live From the Campaign Trail:
The Greatest Presidential Campaign Speeches of the 20th Century and How They
Shaped Modern America (Walker Books: 2008).
Michael's research at New America has been
specifically focused on the issue of private military contractors, reforming
the foreign assistance bureacracy (with a particular focus on democracy
promotion) and improving aid coordination between private and public actors. He
is the co-author of a comprehensive
report that addresses the issue of integrating private contractors more
effectively into U.S. national security operations
Previously, Michael served in the U.S.
Department of State as chief speechwriter for U.S. Representative to the United
Nations Bill Richardson and Undersecretary of State Stuart Eizenstat. He has
worked at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and Foreign Policy
magazine, and as chief speechwriter for Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT). He was a Senior
Vice President at the strategic communications firm of Robinson, Lerer, and
Montgomery and has worked on political campaigns both in the United States and
overseas. Michael serves on the board of the National Security Network and has
taught at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs.
A frequent commentator on politics and
international affairs his work has been published in the Wall Street Journal,
the New York Times, the Washington Post, Christian Science Monitor, the World
Policy Journal, Politico, Foreign Policy, the New York Daily News, Forbes.com,
the St. Petersburg Times, Courier de la Planete, Worth Magazine and he offers
commentary on national politics and foreign policy at Talkingpointsmemo.com and
www.democracyarsenal.org.
During the 2008 U.S. presidential campaign he was a
regular contributor to the New York Times Campaign Stops blog. He has
also been featured on ABC News, Good Morning America NOW, Fox News, BBC TV,
South African television, Al Jazeera, Press TV, Air America, WNYC's The Brian
Lerer Show, Pacifica Radio and XM Radio's Potus '08
Michael holds a bachelor's degree in
international relations from American University and a master's degree from
Columbia University.
