Michael Sterner

The IRC Group

MEI Board Member Emeritus

Michael Sterner was a career United States diplomat for 25 years. Since retiring from government service in October 1981 he has been a partner of The IRC Group, a Washington-based international consulting firm. From 1977 until his retirement, Ambassador Sterner was a Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs, with special responsibility for Middle East negotiations. He participated in the negotiations leading up to Camp David, in the Egypt-Israel peace treaty negotiations, and in the talks to establish autonomy for the West Bank and Gaza.

Mr. Sterner served as Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates 1974-76. Prior to that he had assignments in Aden, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt. He served on the Egypt, Arabian Peninsula and Arab-Israel desks in Washington, and from 1969-70 attended the National War College. He was appointed Director of Egyptian Affairs in 1970 and in 1973 was also appointed to be a member of the US delegation to the Geneva Middle East Peace Conference. Before joining the Foreign Service, Ambassador Sterner was a government relations representative for the Arabian American Oil Company in Saudi Arabia from 1951-53. He served in the US Army 1954-56. Mr. Sterner received an A.B. degree in government from Harvard College in 1951. He speaks Arabic and French.