Robert Greenway

Former Adjunct Fellow

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At A Glance:

Robert Greenway is a former adjunct fellow at Hudson Institute and executive director of the Abraham Accords Peace Institute.

Biography

Robert Greenway is a former adjunct fellow at Hudson Institute and executive director of the Abraham Accords Peace Institute.

Robert Greenway has more than 30 years’ experience in public service culminating as the senior US government official responsible for developing, coordinating and implementing US government policy for all of the Middle East and North Africa on the National Security Council. Prior to service on the NSC he served as a senior intelligence officer at the Defense Intelligence Agency, and a combat veteran of the United States Army Special Forces.

While deputy assistant to the president and senior director of the national security council’s Middle Eastern and North African affairs directorate he planned and executed the United States’ most significant economic sanctions since the Cold War as part of a broad strategy for Iran which doubled the sanctions pressure of the previous three administrations in one third the time. He was a principal architect of the historic Abraham Accords, the most significant diplomatic breakthrough in Middle East peace since 1994. Personally supervised development of a first-ever presidentially approved strategies for Iran, Syria, Iraq, Libya, Lebanon and Israel, and established the first national level efficacy and assessment process to quantify outcomes and measure progress toward strategic objectives. He was instrumental in the removal of the world’s most dangerous terrorist leaders, including Qassem Soleimani and Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, greatly improving regional stability and safety. He coordinated the implementation of a comprehensive strategy with a broad international coalition to defeat ISIS resulting in the liberation of the 20,000 square miles of territory it controlled, and the elimination of its leadership in Syria and Iraq.

Before being assigned to the NSC he served at the Defense Intelligence Agency as a senior intelligence officer in US Central Command. While assigned to USCENTCOM he deployed twice to Afghanistan as the senior intelligence analyst for the commander, Special Operations Joint Task Force from 2013-2014, and as senior intelligence advisor for the commander, International Security Assistance Forces, in 2011. He identified new approaches to mapping bulk financial transactions using big data to identify illicit activity enabling legal action against global illicit trade networks, for which he was awarded the David Rist Prize for research contributing to tangible results.

Mr. Greenway retired from active duty prior to joining the DIA having commanded special forces units at every level from team through battalion. In October 2001 he deployed in support of Operation Relentless Pursuit and Enduring Freedom I while assigned to a special mission unit immediately following the attacks of  September 11. He deployed again in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom with the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in 2003 and 2004 where his duties included establishing the Iraqi Counterterrorism Force. Mr. Greenway was selected by the deputy secretary of defense to report on the status of the Iraqi insurgency before serving as a counterterrorism policy advisor to the assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low intensity conflict. He exercised daily control over the Special Forces Assessment, Selection, and Qualification Courses from 2008 until retiring in July 2010 where he realigned the military’s most complex training process allowing unprecedented expansion of high-demand special forces without compromise in quality.

Mr. Greenway has an MA with honors from Webster University and a BA from the Virginia Military Institute.

His civilian awards include the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service, two National Intelligence Meritorious Unit Citations, the Army’s Outstanding Civilian Service Award, Defense Intelligence Agency’s Civilian Combat Support Award, three Joint Meritorious Unit Awards and NATO Service Medal. In addition, he received the Military Operations Research Society’s highest award, the David Rist Prize.

His military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster; the Defense Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster; the Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster; the Joint Service Commendation Medal; the Army Commendation Medal; the Joint Service Achievement Medal; the Army Achievement Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters; the National Defense Service Medal with star; the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; the Afghanistan Campaign Medal; the Iraq Campaign Medal; the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; the Special Forces Tab; the Ranger Tab; the Combat Infantry Badge, and Senior Parachutist Badge.

20
April 2023
Past Event
Evacuating Americans Trapped in Sudan
Featured Speakers:
James Barnett
Robert Greenway
Joshua Meservey
Sudanese army soldiers, loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan on April 16, 2023. (AFP via Getty Images)
20
April 2023
Past Event
Evacuating Americans Trapped in Sudan

Hudson Fellows James Barnett, Robert Greenway, and Joshua Meservey discuss the urgent need for a US-led effort to evacuate Americans and outline the principles and hazards that evacuation planners should keep in mind.

Sudanese army soldiers, loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan on April 16, 2023. (AFP via Getty Images)
Featured Speakers:
James Barnett
Robert Greenway
Joshua Meservey
30
March 2023
Past Event
The Abraham Accords: Achievements and Prospects
Featured Speakers:
Ofir Akunis
Robert Greenway
Moderator:
Michael Doran
doran event
30
March 2023
Past Event
The Abraham Accords: Achievements and Prospects

Please join Hudson Institute for a discussion with Israel's Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Ofir Akunis and Executive Director of the Abraham Accords Peace Institute Robert Greenway, moderated by Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East Director Michael Doran.

doran event
Featured Speakers:
Ofir Akunis
Robert Greenway
Moderator:
Michael Doran
15
September 2022
Past Event
The Abraham Accords Two Years On: Building Peace, Looming Threats
Featured Speakers:
Jonathan Schachter
Robert Greenway
Ambassador Mark Regev
Dr. Yossi Mann
The signing ceremony of the Abraham Accords on the South Lawn of the White House on September 15, 2020, in Washington, DC. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
15
September 2022
Past Event
The Abraham Accords Two Years On: Building Peace, Looming Threats

Two years have passed since the historic signing ceremony of the Abraham Accords at the White House. During that time, the signatories have broadened

The signing ceremony of the Abraham Accords on the South Lawn of the White House on September 15, 2020, in Washington, DC. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Featured Speakers:
Jonathan Schachter
Robert Greenway
Ambassador Mark Regev
Dr. Yossi Mann
17
August 2022
Past Event
Virtual Event | From Fist Bumps to Missile Fire: One Month since President Biden's Middle East Trip
Featured Speakers:
Michael Doran
Jonathan Schachter
Robert Greenway
Andrea Stricker
An Iranian flag fluttering in front of Iran's Safir Omid rocket at an undisclosed location on August 16, 2008. (Vahidreza Alai/AFP via Getty Images)
17
August 2022
Past Event
Virtual Event | From Fist Bumps to Missile Fire: One Month since President Biden's Middle East Trip

Please join Hudson Institute for a discussion that will look at what has changed and what has stayed the same in the Middle East since Biden's visit

An Iranian flag fluttering in front of Iran's Safir Omid rocket at an undisclosed location on August 16, 2008. (Vahidreza Alai/AFP via Getty Images)
Featured Speakers:
Michael Doran
Jonathan Schachter
Robert Greenway
Andrea Stricker
24
August 2021
Past Event
Virtual Event | Can We Prevent Further Calamity in Afghanistan?
Featured Speakers:
Lieutenant General H.R. McMaster
Robert Greenway
Ambassador Husain Haqqani
Dr. Nadia Schadlow
24
August 2021
Past Event
Virtual Event | Can We Prevent Further Calamity in Afghanistan?

Please be advised: This event will premiere on this page at 12:00p.m. EDT, Tuesday, August 24. Register for the event here or via the register button.

Featured Speakers:
Lieutenant General H.R. McMaster
Robert Greenway
Ambassador Husain Haqqani
Dr. Nadia Schadlow
Benjamin Netanyahu, Donald Trump, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani of Bahrian, and Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan of the UAE at the White House after signing the Abraham Accords on September 15, 2020. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Caption
Benjamin Netanyahu, Donald Trump, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani of Bahrian, and Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan of the UAE at the White House after signing the Abraham Accords on September 15, 2020. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
rob_greenway
rob_greenway
Former Adjunct Fellow
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Director, Middle East Peace Project, America First Policy Institute
Commentary
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An air crew assists evacuees aboard a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft in support of the Afghanistan evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport on August 21, 2021 in Kabul, Afghanistan. (Taylor Crul/U.S. Air Force via Getty Images)
Caption
An air crew assists evacuees aboard a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft in support of the Afghanistan evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport on August 21, 2021 in Kabul, Afghanistan. (Taylor Crul/U.S. Air Force via Getty Images)
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Former Adjunct Fellow
michael_doran
michael_doran
Senior Fellow and Director, Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East
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Senior Fellow and Director, Keystone Defense Initiative
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Senior Fellow and Director, Center for Defense Concepts and Technology
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Senior Fellow and Director, Center on Europe and Eurasia
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