Biography

Alex Laskaris served in the U.S. Department of State for 34 years, retiring in 2025 and joining the University of Rhode Island as an adjunct professor for the spring 2026 semester. He served as the Ambassador to Chad from 2022 to 2025 and to the Republic of Guinea from 2012 to 2015. Previous positions include Deputy to the Commander of U.S. Africa Command, Consul General in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and leader of the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Ninewa Province. He has also served on the Policy Planning Staff, at the US Mission to the United Nations, and as an instructor at the National War College. Other overseas assignments include Kosovo, Burundi, Angola, Egypt, Botswana and Liberia. He holds a Masters in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College and a Bachelors in International Relations from Georgetown University. In retirement, his goal is to encourage students to pursue careers in international affairs.