A Conversation with Josh Paul, former Director of the U.S. State Departments Bureau of Political-Military Affairs

Hear insights on U.S.-Israel alliance and the landscape of U.S. security cooperation.

Wednesday, September 4, 2024
12:15 PM
UCLA Law School, Room 1447
385 Charles E Young Drive East
Los Angeles, CA 90095

ABOUT THE EVENT

Join us for an in-person conversation with Josh Paul, former Director of the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Political-Military Affairs as he discusses the history and present issues of the U.S.-Israel defense relationship as well as provide look into U.S. security cooperation at large.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Josh Paul resigned from the State Department in October 2023 due to his disagreement with the Biden Administration's decision to rush lethal military assistance to Israel in the context of its war on Gaza. He had previously spent over 11 years working as a Director in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, which is responsible for U.S. defense diplomacy, security assistance, and arms transfers. He previously worked on security sector reform in both Iraq and the West Bank, with additional roles in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, U.S. Army Staff, and as a Congressional staffer for Representative Steve Israel (D-NY). Josh grew up between London and New York, and holds Masters degrees from the Universities of Georgetown and St Andrews, Scotland. He is currently a Non-Resident Fellow at the organization Democracy Now for the Arab World (DAWN) and a recipient of the 2023 Callaway Award for Civic Courage.

ABOUT THE MODERATOR

Kal Raustiala holds the Promise Institute Chair in Comparative and International Law at UCLA Law School and is a Professor at the UCLA International Institute, where he teaches in the Program on Global Studies. Since 2007 he has served as Director of the UCLA Burkle Center for International Relations. From 2012-2015 he was UCLA’s Associate Vice Provost for International Studies and Faculty Director of the International Education Office. Professor Raustiala's research focuses on international law, international relations, and intellectual property.