David Nalle
Encyclopedia
David Nalle is a retired American
diplomat
, writer
and lecturer
and the former editor of Central Asia Monitor
.
Born in Philadelphia, his study of Engineering at Princeton University
was interrupted by World War II
where he served as a Naval Aviator. He returned to complete a degree in English after the war. In the 1950s he joined the United States Information Agency
and was assigned to the Middle East desk and eventually sent to Afghanistan. During the 1960s he was posted in Iran, Syria and Jordan and began to develop a reputation as a linguist and expert on Central Asia
and the Middle East
. While in Iran he also served as director of the Iran-America Society
. He returned to the United States to head the USIA's division for the Near East, South Asia and North Africa in the late 1960s and early 1970s and was then posted to Moscow as Press and Cultural Affairs Officer. After his tour in Moscow he returned to his prior supervisory position at USIA. He served a total of 28 years with the USIA.
During and after his tour in Moscow at the end of the Brezhnev regime he and his wife Peggy Nalle played a role in assisting Russian dissident artists in organizing shows in Moscow and in getting their work out of the Soviet Union and shown in the United States and Europe, as well as helping some dissident artists in emigrating from Russia.
After retiring from the USIA he became the founding director of the Alfred Friendly Press Fellowship, a position which he held for 10 years, overlapping with his position as Washington editor of the Central Asia Monitor
. He has written on Middle East and Central Asian affairs for Middle East Journal
and Middle East Policy
. He is the Chairman Emeritus of the Nava'i Lecture in Central Asian Studies at Georgetown University
and currently teaches courses on Central Asia at OLLI/American University
. He is on the National Advisory Committees of the Middle East Policy Center and the Alfred Friendly Foundation
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
and the former editor of Central Asia Monitor
Central Asia Monitor
Central Asia Monitor was in publication from 1992 to 2002. The journal focused on historical and current events in the five former Soviet Republics of Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Its founder and editor-in-chief was Valery Chalidze. Its primary...
.
Born in Philadelphia, his study of Engineering at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
was interrupted by World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
where he served as a Naval Aviator. He returned to complete a degree in English after the war. In the 1950s he joined the United States Information Agency
United States Information Agency
The United States Information Agency , which existed from 1953 to 1999, was a United States agency devoted to "public diplomacy". In 1999, USIA's broadcasting functions were moved to the newly created Broadcasting Board of Governors, and its exchange and non-broadcasting information functions were...
and was assigned to the Middle East desk and eventually sent to Afghanistan. During the 1960s he was posted in Iran, Syria and Jordan and began to develop a reputation as a linguist and expert on Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
and the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. While in Iran he also served as director of the Iran-America Society
Iran-America Society
The Iran-America Society was founded in the 1950s in Tehran, Iran to promote understanding between the people of Iran and the people of the United States of America. The founding Chairman of the Board was Ralph E. Becket. David Nalle was one of its early directors. Its office in Washington, DC...
. He returned to the United States to head the USIA's division for the Near East, South Asia and North Africa in the late 1960s and early 1970s and was then posted to Moscow as Press and Cultural Affairs Officer. After his tour in Moscow he returned to his prior supervisory position at USIA. He served a total of 28 years with the USIA.
During and after his tour in Moscow at the end of the Brezhnev regime he and his wife Peggy Nalle played a role in assisting Russian dissident artists in organizing shows in Moscow and in getting their work out of the Soviet Union and shown in the United States and Europe, as well as helping some dissident artists in emigrating from Russia.
After retiring from the USIA he became the founding director of the Alfred Friendly Press Fellowship, a position which he held for 10 years, overlapping with his position as Washington editor of the Central Asia Monitor
Central Asia Monitor
Central Asia Monitor was in publication from 1992 to 2002. The journal focused on historical and current events in the five former Soviet Republics of Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Its founder and editor-in-chief was Valery Chalidze. Its primary...
. He has written on Middle East and Central Asian affairs for Middle East Journal
Middle East Journal
The Middle East Journal is published by the Washington, D.C.-based Middle East Institute. It was first published in 1947, making it the oldest U.S. peer-reviewed publication on the modern Middle East...
and Middle East Policy
Middle East Policy
Middle East Policy is an academic peer-reviewed journal on the Middle East region in the field of foreign policy founded in 1982, published quarterly by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the Middle East Policy Council...
. He is the Chairman Emeritus of the Nava'i Lecture in Central Asian Studies at Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
and currently teaches courses on Central Asia at OLLI/American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
. He is on the National Advisory Committees of the Middle East Policy Center and the Alfred Friendly Foundation
Alfred Friendly Foundation
The Alfred Friendly Press Fellowships is an American non-profit foundation that gives journalists from nations in the developing world which meet basic standards of a free press the opportunity to work as reporters in American newsrooms...
.