Norman L. Eisen, Former U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Joins Brookings as Visiting Fellow

Washington, D.C. — Norman L. Eisen, former U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic, White House “ethics czar,” and co-founder of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), joins the Brookings Institution as a visiting fellow in Governance Studies, Darrell West, vice president and director of Governance Studies, announced today.  

At Brookings, Eisen will focus his scholarship on improving public sector performance both in the United States and around the world. He will also continue his anticorruption research.

“We are honored to have Ambassador Eisen join us at Brookings and we look forward to his contributions to our research efforts,” said West. “He will bring a unique perspective to Governance Studies, especially on issues related to domestic and international governance and governmental ethics and transparency. We believe the Ambassador offers exceptional expertise, and he will be an excellent addition to Governance Studies, where we focus on how to improve governance and public sector effectiveness around the globe.”

“I am extremely excited to be joining Brookings,” Eisen said. “The Governance Studies program is renowned for cutting-edge research impacting policy-makers around the world and the public at large. I look forward to joining this esteemed team of influential researchers.”

Eisen became the U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic in January 2011. During his appointment, Eisen focused on three main diplomatic objectives: deepening the bilateral strategic and defense relationship, intensifying U.S.-Czech economic ties and advancing the shared values of the two countries.  He won international recognition for launching a series of innovative strategies supporting Czech-led anti-corruption efforts.

Prior to his appointment as Ambassador, Eisen from 2009 to 2011, served in the White House as Special Assistant and Special Counsel to the President for Ethics and Government Reform.  In that capacity, he helped lead the Obama administration’s historic initiatives on government ethics, lobbying regulation and open government. Eisen’s White House portfolio also included financial regulatory reform, campaign finance law, whistleblower protection and other reform issues.

Before entering the administration, Eisen was a partner in the Washington, D.C. law firm Zuckerman Spaeder where he spent nearly two decades and represented government entities, businesses, and individuals on a variety of matters, including allegations of corruption and other white-collar investigations.

In 2003, Eisen co-founded CREW, a government watchdog group. In addition, he spent three years between his undergraduate degree and law school working as Assistant Director of the Los Angeles office of the Anti-Defamation League, a national civil rights organization.

Eisen received his J.D. in 1991 from Harvard Law School and his B.A. from Brown University in 1985, both with honors.