Philip Zelikow

Philip Zelikow
Name	Philip Zelikow
Birth date	1954
Birth place	Houston, Texas, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Houston (BA), Trinity University (Texas) (MA), Tufts University (PhD, JD)
Occupation	Historian, author, professor, public servant
Known for	Executive Director of the 9/11 Commission, Counselor of the United States Department of State
Spouse	Mary Zelikow

Philip Zelikow is an American historian, author, and public servant best known for his role as the executive director of the 9/11 Commission. A professor of history at the University of Virginia, his career has spanned academia, high-level government appointments, and significant contributions to public policy analysis. His work often focuses on critical junctures in American foreign policy, international security, and the management of major national crises.

Early life and education

Born in Houston, Texas, he attended Strake Jesuit College Preparatory before pursuing higher education. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in history and political science from the University of Houston. He then received a Master of Arts in history from Trinity University (Texas) in San Antonio. His academic journey continued in the Northeastern United States, where he earned both a PhD in history and a Juris Doctor from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.

Academic career

He has held faculty positions at several prestigious institutions, including the University of Virginia's Miller Center of Public Affairs, where he directed the Presidential Recordings Program. He has also taught at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government and served as a fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London. His scholarly work includes co-authoring the seminal book *Essence of Decision: Explaining the Cuban Missile Crisis* with Graham T. Allison, a key text in the study of bureaucratic politics and foreign policy decision-making.

Government service

His government career began on the National Security Council staff under President George H. W. Bush, where he worked on European and Soviet Union affairs during the period of German reunification. He later returned to public service under President George W. Bush, serving first on the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. In 2005, he was appointed Counselor of the United States Department of State under Secretary Condoleezza Rice, advising on a range of major policy issues including the War in Afghanistan and transformation efforts within the United States Agency for International Development.

9/11 Commission and related work

Appointed unanimously by the commission's leadership, he served as the executive director of the bipartisan National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, commonly known as the 9/11 Commission. In this role, he managed the day-to-day investigation and played a central part in drafting the influential final report, *The 9/11 Commission Report*. Following the commission's work, he was appointed by Secretary Rice to direct a review of the United States Department of State's role in counterterrorism policy prior to the September 11 attacks.

Later career and writings

After leaving the State Department, he returned to the University of Virginia as a professor of history. He has authored and edited numerous books on topics ranging from the Kennedy administration to the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Suez Crisis. He served on the Markle Foundation Task Force on National Security and continued to contribute to public discourse through writings in publications like *Foreign Affairs*. In 2020, he was appointed to the Congressional Oversight Commission to oversee CARES Act funds.

Personal life

He is married to Mary Zelikow, and they have two children. He has maintained a relatively private personal life while being a prominent figure in the intersecting worlds of academia, history, and national security policy.

Category:American historians Category:American public officials Category:University of Virginia faculty Category:9/11 Commission