Advisory Board
U.S. Congressional Envoy
As a specialist with the Congressional Research Service, Dr. Katzman served as a senior Middle East analyst for the U.S. Congress, with special emphasis on Iran, the Persian Gulf states, Afghanistan, and Iran-backed groups operating in the Middle East and South Asia. He provides reports and briefings to Members of Congress and their staffs on U.S. policy on these countries and issues, and provides analysis of related legislative proposals. He has participated in several congressional delegations to the region at the Member and staff level, and given many official presentations and briefings at conferences and meetings throughout Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and South and Central Asia.
He has also written numerous articles in various outside publications, including a book entitled "The Warriors of Islam: Iran's Revolutionary Guard" (Westview Press, 1993) which was the subject of his Ph.D. dissertation. During 1996 and again during July 2001-March 2002, he was assigned to the majority staff of the House Foreign Affairs Committee to work on Middle East issues, including hearings and legislation such as the Iran Sanctions Act (1996). On about a dozen occasions, he has testified before various Committees and Subcommittees on Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan. Dr. Katzman has appeared on numerous expert panels sponsored by various think tanks and universities. Among outside publications, during 1998, he wrote expert working papers on the ballistic missile capabilities of Iran and Iraq for the Commission to Assess the Ballistic Missile Threat to the United States ("Rumsfeld Commission"). In late 1999, and again in 2010, the Atlantic Council published his monographs on U.S. sanctions on Iran. Dr. Katzman has been
quoted frequently on the region in various media. Dr. Katzman holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from New York University (1991). During May 1985-June 1989, Dr. Katzman was an analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency, where he prepared written reports for U.S. Middle East policymakers on leadership dynamics in Iran, Iraq, and the Persian Gulf states. Two years in the private defense consulting industry followed his tour at the CIA.
Vice Chairman
Tom Harb is the CO-Chair for the American Middle East Coalition for Democracy. Plays an educational role among the Middle eastern communities in United States and through Middle east media. Also, Tom Harb is the President of the World Council of the Cedars Revolution WCCR – USA Chapter, an NGO representing Lebanese activists worldwide. The WCCR was established in 2006, after the people of Lebanon rallied in demand for freedom and independence. It is now considered the most unwavering union in representing the hope and aspirations of millions of Lebanese and the Diaspora.
In support of the WCCR’s mission, Mr. Harb became particularly influential aiding with other team of Lebanese experts /activists the UN in introducing what is now known as the UNSCR 1559; a resolution centering on the disarmament of all militant and terrorist organizations in Lebanon. Mr Harb became the Secretary General for the International Lebanese Committee for UNSC 1559. Its creed includes the following message…
“The International Lebanese Committee for the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559 was formed by a number of Lebanese leaders in diaspora to follow up on the full implementation of the said resolution..”
Mr. Harb is also Chairman of the American Maronite Union. An alliance working closely with the Maronite American Leadership and the Maronite Lebanese Leadership to preserve Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence where free, Christian advocates can continue to be heard as liberty was best intended. The Union also aids in education the Maronite American-Lebanese communities on heritage, culture, ethnicity and the importance of sustained patronage for the future of the Lebanese freedom and Christianity base.
Mr. Harb’s frequent participation and speaking arrangements include appearances at major universities, numerous UN Mission meetings as well as European Parliaments, conferences in Brussels, Paris, Lisbon and Vienna. He has also appeared on media outlets such as MSNBC, Fox News, al-Hurra , Al-Jazera, Alarabiya, France 24, Russia Today, Cairo TVs, Iraqi’s TVs, I-24, BBC as well as various radio talk programs.
Tom Harb is an industrious citizen of the United States and a steadfast guardian of Lebanese culture and traditions. Born and raised in Lebanon and educated in the United States, Tom Harb obtained a Bachelor degree in Civil Engineering from UMASS University in 1982 and a Masters in Structural Engineering from NJIT (New Jersey Institute of Technology) in 1983. Mr Harb began his career as an engineer for the city of New York in 1983. In 1986, Tom founded his construction firm, Harbco, Inc.; a corporation ongoing as one of the top 25 construction firms in Central Florida. In addition to leading the construction field, Tom oversees several thriving companies, one of them being Phoenicia Development, LLC (an Orlando-based real estate development company). Tom is Chief Executive Officer of Phoenicia; a role showcasing his proven business sense.
Constitutional Law Scholar
Amir Abbas Fakhravar, also known as Siavash, is an esteemed Iranian-American writer and scholar of constitutional law. Amir's life took a dramatic turn when, at the young age of sixteen while excelling as a senior high school student in mathematics and physics, he was arrested by the authorities of the Islamic regime of Iran. This marked the beginning of a series of arrests during his time in medical school and law school, all stemming from his student activities, writings, and speeches. Amir's unwavering commitment to his principles led to him being sentenced to prison twice by the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Iran. Remarkably, while serving an eight-year prison term as a political prisoner in Evin Prison, he authored a novel which was shortlisted for the prestigious Paulo Coelho Literature Award. In November 2004, International PEN recognized Amir Fakhravar on "the Day of the Imprisoned Writer," a testament to his resilience and dedication to freedom of expression. English PEN and PEN Canada also bestowed honorary awards upon him in the same year. During his harrowing imprisonment in the notorious Evin and Qasr prisons, Amir was subjected to brutal torture, a form of cruelty condemned by Amnesty International as the first documented instance of "white torture" in Iran's history. In a remarkable turn of events in 2006, Amir Fakhravar managed to escape Evin Prison with the assistance of the George W. Bush administration. His courage and insights led him to testify before both the Senate Homeland Security Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee, where he illuminated critical aspects of U.S.-Iran relations. In 2010, Amir began teaching "Democratic Transition" at the Institute of World Politics in Washington, D.C., as a research fellow and visiting lecturer. Since December 2013, he has been instructing courses in "Comparative Constitutional Law," "Political Crime," and "Interpol" at the Texas State University System as an adjunct professor. Amir Fakhravar's fourth book, "Comrade Ayatollah," has not only achieved best-seller status in the Iranian underground book market since 2016 but has also served as a catalyst for the constitutional revolution in Iran against the oppressive Islamic dictatorship. Amir is aptly recognized as "The Persian Thomas Jefferson" for his pivotal role in crafting a proposed constitution for a future Iran. His unyielding dedication to constitutional reform and Iran's Constitutional Revolution has afforded him the privilege of addressing both the United States Congress and the UK Parliament on multiple occasions. Amir Fakhravar's enduring contributions and tireless advocacy for positive change solidify his standing as a significant figure in the realms of international relations and constitutional law.