The Saltzman Forum

The Saltzman Forum is an annual event held in honor of Ambassador Arnold A. Saltzman.  Each year, the Saltzman Forum touches on one issue or region of global importance and examines its political and security implications.

Ambassador Saltzman has served five American presidents in a wide range of policy-level diplomatic and economic assignments; he received a Presidential Commendation for his efforts on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.  Ambassador Saltzman has carried out diplomatic assignments in former Czechoslovakia, the former Soviet Union, South America, Central America, and Austria.  He has served the government in the Office of Price Stabilization, Procurement Policy Board, Office of Economic Opportunity, and Agency for International Development, and he was the Chairman of the Federal Blue Ribbon Commission on National Growth and Development.  Ambassador Saltzman was also Advisor to the New York State Congressional Delegation in Washington and Chairman of the Speakers Committee of the Assembly in Albany, New York.  He is presently an advisor to presidents of republics of the former Soviet Union. 

Ambassador Saltzman is Chairman of Windsor Production Corporation, retired CEO of Vista Resources, and a director in a number of charitable organizations. Among numerous non-profit activities, he has served as President of the National Committee on American Foreign Policy, Chairman of the Columbia College Board of Overseers and Columbia College Fund, and a member of Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs Board of Advisors.  Ambassador Saltzman is a graduate of Columbia College, has received the Columbia University Medal, and holds honorary doctorates from Hofstra and Adelphi Universities.  He also received the Order of Honor, the Republic of Georgia’s most prestigious decoration.

Eighth Annual Saltzman Forum
April 13, 2012 — "Endgame: Afghanistan"
Featuring Ahmed Rashid and Tom Gregg
Moderated by Professor Scott Smitth

Seventh Annual Saltzman Forum
April 7, 2011 — "Iran: A Strategic Assessment"
Featuring Karim Sadjadpour, Dr. Gary Sick, Amb. Gérard Araud, İsmail Çobanoğlu, Dr. Austin Long, and Dr. Giandomenico Picco
Moderated by Professor Jean-Marie Guéhenno

Sixth Annual Saltzman Forum
December 3, 2010 — "Afghanistan: Prospects for Peace"
Featuring Dr. Richard Betts, Amb. Zalmay Khalilzad, Dr. Jean-Marie Guéhenno, Col. Randy George, Dr. Austin Long, Dr. Abraham Wagner, Dr. Hassan Abbas, Dr. Christine Fair, Joshua Foust, Michael Semple, Dante Paradiso, Dr. Gille Dorronsoro, Michael Hanna, Dr. Clare Lockhart, and Dr. James Shinn

Fifth Annual Saltzman Forum
March 25, 2010 — “Enduring Conflict, Achieving Peace: Congo and Sudan”
Featuring Dr. Séverine Autesserre, Suliman Baldo, Tatiana Carayannis, Fabienne Hara, Nicholas Fink Haysom, Jason Stearns, and Dr. Herbert Weiss
Moderated by Professor Jean-Marie Guéhenno

Fourth Annual Saltzman Forum
April 23, 2009 — “The Obama Administration Faces Afghanistan”
Featuring Dr. Richard K. Betts, Dr. Stephen Biddle, Max Boot, Steve Coll, Dr. Sumit Ganguly, and Dr. Kimberly Marten 
Moderated by Professors Tanisha Fazal and Jack Snyder

Third Annual Saltzman Forum
March 25, 2008 — “U.S. Foreign Policy: Beyond 2008”
Featuring National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski

Second Annual Saltzman Forum
March 23, 2007 — “Intelligence Reform in the Age of Terror: An Assessment”
Featuring Dr. Richard K. Betts, Dr. Robert L. Jervis, Dr. Mark M. Lowenthal, General William E. Odom

First Annual Saltzman Forum
October 28, 2005 — “Promoting Democracy: Opportunities and Challenges in a Complex World”
Featuring Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Dr. Sharyn O’Halloran, Dr. Robin Cleveland, Dr. Jesse Ribot, Gayle Smith, Dr. Richard Betts, Carl Gershman, Dr. Nikolas Gvosdev, Dr. Jack Snyder, Dr. Stephen Sestanovich, J. Scott Carpenter, Dr. Andrew Nathan, Dr. Georges Fauriol, Kenneth Roth, Kenneth Wollack
Moderated by President Lee Bollinger and Dean Lisa Anderson