Lorne Craner

Lorne Craner was elected President of the International Republican Institute on 2 August 2004, and is also a Director of Internews.

From the Henry Jackson Society event profile:

Lorne Craner returned to IRI as President in 2004 following his unanimous selection by IRI's Board of Directors. Since then he has led the strengthening of IRI's programs in countries such as Afghanistan, China, Colombia, Pakistan, Indonesia and Iraq. IRI has broadened its work in governance, women's participation, access for the disabled, the use of technology in democracy promotion and program evaluation. IRI has also built an unprecedented level of cooperation with U.S. and foreign democracy building organizations, and has held its two most successful fundraisers since Craner's return.
Previously, Craner was Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor for Secretary of State Colin Powell. Among other accomplishments, he initiated the first U.S. government programs to advance democracy in China, helped construct the Millennium Challenge Corporation's "good governance' criteria, sharpened the administration's focus on human rights in Central Asia, and contributed to the conception and implementation of the administration's approach to democratization in the Middle East. Upon his departure, Craner received the Distinguished Service Award, the State Department's highest honor, from Secretary Powell.
From 1995 to 2001, Craner, as IRI's President, led the institute to new levels of programmatic achievement, fundraising, financial accountability and news coverage. He joined IRI as Vice President for programs in 1993. From 1992-93 he served at the National Security Council as a Director of Asian Affairs under General Brent Scowcroft, and from 1989-92 was Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs under James Baker. Craner was Senator John McCain's legislative assistant (LA) for foreign policy from 1986-89; he began his career as then-Congressman Jim Kolbe's foreign policy LA.

Career

Aug. 2004 - : IRI, President

2001 - 2004: Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor for Secretary of State Colin Powell

1995 to 2001: IRI, President

1993 - 1995: IRI VP for programs

1992 - 1993: National Security Council as a Director of Asian Affairs under General Brent Scowcroft

1989 - 1992: Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs under James Baker.

1986 - 1989: Senator John McCain's legislative assistant (LA) for foreign policy

Foreign policy advisor to Congressman Jim Kolbe

M.A. in National Security Studies from Georgetown University

B.A. from Reed College

Phillips Exeter Academy

Affiliations

• Advisory Committee on Democracy Promotion – Member
• Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED) – Advisory Board
• Advisory Committee On Voluntary Foreign Aid – member
• Internews Network – board of directors
• Weiser Center for Emerging Democracies (at the Univ. of Michigan) policy board