Chas Freeman

Chas Freeman is a retired American diplomat and writer. He served in the United States Foreign Service, the State and Defense Departments in many different capacities over thirty years. Freeman was the main interpreter for Richard Nixon during his historic meeting with Chou Enlai and Mao Zedong in China in 1972.

Professional career

2021-2024 Visiting Scholar, Watson Institute, Brown University

2015-2020 Senior Fellow, Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs

1997-2009 President, Middle East Policy Council

1996-2009 Co-Chair, United States China Policy Foundation

1996-2008 Vice Chair, Atlantic Council of the USA

1995-Date Chairman, Projects International, Inc.

1994-95 Distinguished Fellow, United States Institute of Peace

1993-94 Assistant Secretary of Defense, Regional, then International Security Affairs

1992-93 Distinguished Fellow, Institute for National Strategic Studies

1989-92 U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

1986-89 Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, African Affairs

1984-86 Chargé/Deputy Chief of Mission, American Embassy, Bangkok

1981-84 Chargé/Deputy Chief of Mission, American Embassy, Beijing

1979-81 Director, Chinese Affairs, Department of State

1979 Acting, then Deputy United States Coordinator for Refugee Affairs

1978-79 China Normalization Working Group, Department of State

1978 Director, Program Coordination and Development, United States Information Agency

1977-78 Director, Plans and Management, Public Affairs, Department of State

1976-77 Director, Public Programs, Department of State

1975-76 Deputy Director, Republic of China [Taiwan], Department of State

1974-75 Visiting Fellow, East Asian Studies, The Harvard Law School

1971-74 Economic/Commercial Officer for China, Department of State

1971-74 Principal Interpreter of Chinese, Department of State

1969-71 Language (Mandarin & Taiwanese) and Area Training, Washington and Taiwan

1967-68 Cultural Affairs Officer, South India

1966-67 Vice Consul, Madras [Chennai], India

1965 Entered Foreign Service of the United States