Our Mission
The American Task Force on Lebanon (ATFL) is a non-sectarian, non-partisan, and independent 501c3 non-profit organization. Comprised of prominent Americans of Lebanese heritage, our mission is to educate policymakers and the public about the importance of a robust US-Lebanon bilateral relationship by facilitating dialogue around common principles and issues of strategic importance.
We are motivated by American interests and values, with a commitment to improving the civic, cultural, educational, and charitable ties between both countries while promoting the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and prosperity of a democratic and pluralistic Lebanon.
Staff
The Hon. Edward M. Gabriel
President and Chief Executive Officer
Philippe Nassif
Chief Operating Officer
Kristen Kouttab
Vice President of Administration
Patricia Karam
Vice President of Policy and
Communications
Steven Howard
Director of Government Affairs
Tayseer Habib
Communications and Policy
Associate
Jenna Elaidy
Program Coordinator
Matthew Audi
Government Affairs Assistant
Ryan Halawi
Political and Security Advisor
Officers
The Hon. Spencer Abraham
Chairman
The Hon. Edward M. Gabriel
President and Chief Executive Officer
Ray R. Irani, Ph.D
Vice Chairman Emeritus
Mr. Nijad I. Fares
Vice Chairman
Ms. Valerie Jacobs
Vice Chairman
Mr. Mohamed “Mike” Ahmar
Treasurer
Jacques F. Tohmé, M.D.
Secretary
Denyse Sabagh, Esq.
Legal Counsel
The Hon. Thomas A. Nassif
Chairman Emeritus (1990-2014)
Mr. Peter J. Tanous
Founding Chairman (1987-1990)
Board of Directors
The Hon. Spencer Abraham
Mr. Thomas G. Abraham
Ms. Leila Aridi Afas
Mr. Mohamed “Mike” Ahmar
Ms. Natasha-Christina Akda
Mr. Ahmed Boomrod
Mr. Michel Chammas
Mr. Nijad I. Fares
The Hon. Edward M. Gabriel
Mr. Joseph C. Geagea
Mr. Naseem Haffar
Ms. Valerie Jacobs
Mr. Adib Kassis
Mr. Abie Musa
Francois Nader M.D.
Mr. Ralph Nader
The Hon. Thomas A. Nassif
Mr. Khalil Rouhana
Mr. Ghassan Saab
Mrs. Manal Saab
Mr. Justin Sayfie
Ms. Lulu Seikaly
Mr. Salim Sessine
Mr. Kamal Shouhayib
Mr. Peter J. Tanous
Jacques F. Tohme, M.D.
Ms. Lana Yaghi
Ms. Fayrouz Saad
Mr. Ziad Fleyhan
Policy Advisory Board
Gen. John P. Abizaid, Ret.
The Hon. Spencer Abraham
The Hon. Alex M. Azar II
The Hon. Charles W. Boustany
Gen. George A. Joulwan, Ret.
The Hon. Ray LaHood
The Hon. Nick J. Rahall
The Hon. Donna Shalala
Expert Advisory Council
Mr. Colin Brooks
Former Senior Professional Staff Member, Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Ms. Hagar Chemali
Former Director of Communications and Spokesperson, US Mission to the UN
Ms. Elisa Ewers
Former Senior Professional Staff Member, Senate Foreign
Relations Committee
The Hon. Jeffrey Feltman
Former US Ambassador to Lebanon; Former UN Under Secretary General for Political Affairs
The Hon. David Hale
Former US Ambassador to Lebanon; Former US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs
The Hon. Frederic C. Hof
Former US Ambassador to Syria
The Hon. James Jeffrey
Former US Ambassador to Iraq and Turkey; Former US Special Representative for Syria Engagement
Mr. Firas Maksad
Managing Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Eurasia Group
Paul Salem, Ph.D.
Former President of the Middle East Institute
The Hon. David Satterfield
Former US Ambassador to Lebanon; Director, Rice University Baker Institute for Public Policy
The Hon. David Schenker
Former US Assistant Secretary of State
Randa Slim, Ph.D.
Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy Institute of the Johns Hopkins University
School of Advanced International Studies
Ms. Mona Yacoubian
Senior Adviser and Director of the Middle East Program, Center for
Strategic and International Studies