As of March 1, 2012, a veteran career diplomat and one of the key architects of NATO enlargement, Matthew J. Bryza, became Director of the International Centre for Defence Studies (ICDS).
As the leader of ICDS, Bryza will oversee the Centre`s general management and develop the coordination and performance of academic research at the Centre. Martin Hurt who has headed ICDS since last summer will continue as a member of the Executive Board who will focus on the management of the Centre`s administrative affairs.
In January, Bryza left the US Foreign Service where his latest posting was as US Ambassador to Azerbaijan (February 2011–January 2012).
Previously, Bryza has served at the US State Department as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs (June 2005–August 2009) responsible for the development and implementation of US policy on the South Caucasus, Turkey, Greece and Cyprus and at the National Security Council as Director for European and Eurasian Affairs (April 2011–June 2005) tasked with the development and coordination of US foreign policy on the South Caucasus, Central Asia, Turkey, Greece and Cyprus, and Eurasian energy security, acting in close cooperation with National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice.
Bryza started his diplomatic career in 1989 at the US Consulate in Poland, Poznan, where he led Consulate`s contacts with the Solidarity movement. Later, he has also worked at US Embassies in Warsaw and in Moscow.
Lauri Mälksoo, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of ICDS, affirms that Bryza`s appointment as the new head will definitely increase the Centre`s international clout and visibility.