Nicholas S. Kass

Senior Fellow, European Affairs

Nicholas S. Kass is responsible for international corporate affairs at the Nawaf Salameh Family Office & Alexandrion Group. He has over thirty years of foreign policy experience with the United States Government as an award-winning analyst, reporter, intelligence collector, diplomat, policy manager, and leader.

He was Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations at the U.S. Department of State (2020-2021), and twice Director for European Affairs (2019-2020, 1999-2001) and Director for Intelligence Programs (2006-2008) at the White House/National Security Council.

He also served as Deputy National Intelligence Officer for Europe and senior analyst for Aegean/Eastern Mediterranean and Kurdish issues at the National Intelligence Council (2018-2019), and as a team chief for Legislative Affairs (2004-2006), liaising with the U.S. Congress.

As Deputy Political Counselor (2001-2003) and Political Officer (1995-1998) at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, Mr. Kass was the Mission’s point officer for developing key relationships with leading politicians, activists, academics, and military and religious leaders.

He also served at the Central Intelligence Agency, including as Intelligence Briefer to the Director of Central Intelligence, and was awarded for unique contributions to the CIA HUMINT mission.

Mr. Kass holds a J.D. from the Columbus School of Law, Catholic University of America, a Master of Arts in Government from Georgetown University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from DePaul University.

He speaks Turkish and Kurdish.