Ian Brzezinski
Encyclopedia
Ian Joseph Brzezinski is a Senior Fellow in the International Security Program and is on the Atlantic Council
’s Strategic Advisors Group.
During George W. Bush
presidency of the United States
, he served as Deputy Assistant United States Secretary of Defense
for Europe and NATO Policy (2001–5). Brzezinski worked for five years a Principal at Booz Allen Hamilton
, Inc. providing policy and technical support to U.S. combatant commands and foreign clients.
Brzezinski is frequent contributor of American press on foreign policy issues.
Today, he leads the Brzezinski Group, which provides strategic insight and advice to government and commercial clients.
Ian Brzezinski is son of Polish American
political scientist, geostrategist, and statesman
Zbigniew Brzezinski
, brother of American lawyer and foreign policy expert Mark Brzezinski
and American television news journalist at MSNBC
Mika Brzezinski
At the United States Department of Defense
Brzezinski's office formulated, coordinated and executed bilateral and regional engagement strategies and defense guidance with the Joint Staff, Unified Combatant Command
and Department of Defense elements. His lead responsibilities included NATO expansion, Alliance force planning and transformation and NATO operations in the Balkans
, the Mediterranean, Afghanistan
and Iraq
. Key highlights of his tenure include the expansion of NATO membership in 2004, the consolidation and reconfiguration of the Alliance’s command structure, the standing up of the NATO Response Force and the coordination of European military contributions to U.S. and NATO-led operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Balkans.
Brzezinski served for seven years on Capitol Hill, first as a Legislative Assistant for National Security Affairs to the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator
Bill Roth, (1995–2000) and then as a Senior Professional Staff Member on the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations (2000–1). In these capacities, he drafted and implemented legislative initiatives and strategies concerning U.S. interests in Europe
, Russia
, the Caucasus
and Central Asia
. As the staff coordinator of the Senate NATO Observer Group, he facilitated coordination and communication between the U.S. Senate and the executive branch on NATO enlargement, NATO operations in the Balkans and Alliance force modernization among other issues.
Brzezinski served as a volunteer in Ukraine
(1993-94) where he advised the Ukrainian National Security Council, Foreign Ministry, Defense Ministry and Parliament. He served as a member of the Policy Planning Staff in the Department of Defense (1991–93), a Consultant to the Center for Naval Analysis (1991–92) and a Support Analyst/Information Assistant at the National Security Council (1986–7).
For his public service, Brzezinski has been awarded the Department of Defense
Medal for Distinguished Public Service, Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas
, Award of Ministry of Defence of Latvia, the Romanian Medal for National Service, Order of Commander, and the Order of Merit, Republic of Poland
, Officer Class.
Brzeziński
is a Polish
surname derived from the root word "brzoza" ("brzez-" in some compound words), meaning "birch
". The adjective suffix "ski" means "being like" or "belonging to", so Brzeziński
refers to a person from one of the localities named for a concentration of birch trees, such as Brzezina
, (a small village in Western Pomerania). In Polish, Brzeziński has an accent mark over the letter "ń", making the Polish pronunciation "bzhe-ZEEN-ski".
The Brzeziński surname was originally borne only by the szlachta
, the Polish noble class, who took their names from their estates, but it later spread to the working and peasant classes as well.
There were 25,361 persons with the name Brzeziński in Poland in 1990. The name has been borne by numerous notable Poles and persons of Polish descent.
Atlantic Council
The Atlantic Council is a Washington, D.C. think tank and public policy group whose mission is to "promote constructive U.S. leadership and engagement in international affairs based on the central role of the Atlantic community in meeting the international challenges of the 21st...
’s Strategic Advisors Group.
During George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
presidency of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, he served as Deputy Assistant United States Secretary of Defense
United States Secretary of Defense
The Secretary of Defense is the head and chief executive officer of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. This position corresponds to what is generally known as a Defense Minister in other countries...
for Europe and NATO Policy (2001–5). Brzezinski worked for five years a Principal at Booz Allen Hamilton
Booz Allen Hamilton
Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. , or more commonly Booz Allen, is an American public consulting firm headquartered in McLean, Fairfax County, Virginia, with 80 other offices throughout the United States. Ralph Shrader is its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. The firm was founded by Edwin Booz in...
, Inc. providing policy and technical support to U.S. combatant commands and foreign clients.
Brzezinski is frequent contributor of American press on foreign policy issues.
Today, he leads the Brzezinski Group, which provides strategic insight and advice to government and commercial clients.
Ian Brzezinski is son of Polish American
Polish American
A Polish American , is a citizen of the United States of Polish descent. There are an estimated 10 million Polish Americans, representing about 3.2% of the population of the United States...
political scientist, geostrategist, and statesman
Statesman
A statesman is usually a politician or other notable public figure who has had a long and respected career in politics or government at the national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term...
Zbigniew Brzezinski
Zbigniew Brzezinski
Zbigniew Kazimierz Brzezinski is a Polish American political scientist, geostrategist, and statesman who served as United States National Security Advisor to President Jimmy Carter from 1977 to 1981....
, brother of American lawyer and foreign policy expert Mark Brzezinski
Mark Brzezinski
Mark Francis Brzezinski is an American lawyer, diplomat, and foreign policy expert who has been confirmed as Ambassador to Sweden by the United States Senate. He is the son of Polish-born former National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski and the grandson of Polish diplomat Tadeusz Brzeziński...
and American television news journalist at MSNBC
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
Mika Brzezinski
Mika Brzezinski
Mika Emilie Leonia Brzezinski is an American television news journalist at MSNBC. Brzezinski is co-host of MSNBC's weekday morning program Morning Joe, where she provides regular commentary and reads the news headlines for the program...
At the United States Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
Brzezinski's office formulated, coordinated and executed bilateral and regional engagement strategies and defense guidance with the Joint Staff, Unified Combatant Command
Unified Combatant Command
A Unified Combatant Command is a United States Department of Defense command that is composed of forces from at least two Military Departments and has a broad and continuing mission. These commands are established to provide effective command and control of U.S. military forces, regardless of...
and Department of Defense elements. His lead responsibilities included NATO expansion, Alliance force planning and transformation and NATO operations in the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
, the Mediterranean, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
and Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. Key highlights of his tenure include the expansion of NATO membership in 2004, the consolidation and reconfiguration of the Alliance’s command structure, the standing up of the NATO Response Force and the coordination of European military contributions to U.S. and NATO-led operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Balkans.
Brzezinski served for seven years on Capitol Hill, first as a Legislative Assistant for National Security Affairs to the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Bill Roth, (1995–2000) and then as a Senior Professional Staff Member on the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations (2000–1). In these capacities, he drafted and implemented legislative initiatives and strategies concerning U.S. interests in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, the Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
and 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...
. As the staff coordinator of the Senate NATO Observer Group, he facilitated coordination and communication between the U.S. Senate and the executive branch on NATO enlargement, NATO operations in the Balkans and Alliance force modernization among other issues.
Brzezinski served as a volunteer in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
(1993-94) where he advised the Ukrainian National Security Council, Foreign Ministry, Defense Ministry and Parliament. He served as a member of the Policy Planning Staff in the Department of Defense (1991–93), a Consultant to the Center for Naval Analysis (1991–92) and a Support Analyst/Information Assistant at the National Security Council (1986–7).
For his public service, Brzezinski has been awarded the Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
Medal for Distinguished Public Service, Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas
Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas
The Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas is the Lithuanian Presidential Award which was re-instituted to honour the citizens of Lithuania for outstanding performance in civil and public offices. Foreign nationals may also be awarded this Order. The Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke...
, Award of Ministry of Defence of Latvia, the Romanian Medal for National Service, Order of Commander, and the Order of Merit, Republic of Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, Officer Class.
Brzeziński
Brzezinski
Brzeziński is a Polish surname derived from the root word "brzoza" , meaning "birch". The adjective suffix "ski" means "being like" or "belonging to", so Brzeziński refers to a person from one of the localities named for a concentration of birch trees, such as Brzezina,...
is a Polish
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
surname derived from the root word "brzoza" ("brzez-" in some compound words), meaning "birch
Birch
Birch is a tree or shrub of the genus Betula , in the family Betulaceae, closely related to the beech/oak family, Fagaceae. The Betula genus contains 30–60 known taxa...
". The adjective suffix "ski" means "being like" or "belonging to", so Brzeziński
Brzezinski
Brzeziński is a Polish surname derived from the root word "brzoza" , meaning "birch". The adjective suffix "ski" means "being like" or "belonging to", so Brzeziński refers to a person from one of the localities named for a concentration of birch trees, such as Brzezina,...
refers to a person from one of the localities named for a concentration of birch trees, such as Brzezina
Brzezina, West Pomeranian Voivodeship
Brzezina is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Dolice, within Stargard County, West Pomeranian Voivodeship, in north-western Poland. It lies approximately south-east of Stargard Szczeciński and south-east of the regional capital Szczecin....
, (a small village in Western Pomerania). In Polish, Brzeziński has an accent mark over the letter "ń", making the Polish pronunciation "bzhe-ZEEN-ski".
The Brzeziński surname was originally borne only by the szlachta
Szlachta
The szlachta was a legally privileged noble class with origins in the Kingdom of Poland. It gained considerable institutional privileges during the 1333-1370 reign of Casimir the Great. In 1413, following a series of tentative personal unions between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of...
, the Polish noble class, who took their names from their estates, but it later spread to the working and peasant classes as well.
There were 25,361 persons with the name Brzeziński in Poland in 1990. The name has been borne by numerous notable Poles and persons of Polish descent.