Published: 05-27-08
Former Saudi Ambassador Jim Oberwetter to address Dallas Friday Group
Former Ambassador to Saudi Arabia James C. Oberwetter will address the Friday Group this Friday May 30 at noon in the Parisian Room of the Fairmont Hotel.
The title of his presentation is Why Saudi Arabia is Winning the War on Terrorism.
During earlier parts of his professional career Oberwetter has also served as press secretary to then Congressman George H. W. Bush and as special assistant to the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
President George W. Bush personally selected James C. Oberwetter in November 2003 to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. While there until April of 2007 he utilized his public policy political and business management experience to direct his team in a strategic repositioning of the U.S./Saudi relationship which had not been addressed since 9/ll.
He interacted frequently with the President the Vice President Secretaries Rice and Powell and numerous U.S. Cabinet Secretaries in accomplishing this task as well as the King Crown Prince and key Ministers of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
A Mission under continuous threat and one direct assault from Al Qaeda he managed under crisis conditions.
A State Department Inspector General’s report said that by “using his superb managerial skills” the result was a “stellar performance… on top of every aspect of this complicated and sometime contentious (Saudi) relationship.”
Upon his return to Dallas he founded Oberwetter & Company LLC a firm advising corporations and institutions on strategies to resolve issues in the governmental and public policy arenas. The company also advises international and Middle East companies on investment opportunities in the United States and assists U.S. companies which wish to invest in the Middle East and internationally.
Prior to his Ambassadorial service he was Senior Vice President of Hunt Consolidated Inc. of Dallas where he advised the Chairman Ray L. Hunt and the Hunt family of companies including Hunt Oil Company on governmental and public affairs strategies domestically and internationally.
Oberwetter has served as chairman vice or co-chairman director senior advisor in numerous bipartisan city and school bond campaigns campaigns for Mayors statewide office holders gubernatorial and Presidential campaigns in Texas.
His past civic service includes: chairman Texas Commission on Drug and Alcohol Abuse; chairman City of Dallas Civil Service Commission; chairman bipartisan City of Dallas Redistricting Committee; executive committee Dallas Metropolitan YMCA; vice chairman Dallas Fort Worth World Affairs Council; board of the Greenhill School; honorary Lifetime Achievement Award Texas Parent Teacher Association.
He was nominated for the U.S. Department of State Cobb Award for outstanding Ambassador of the year. He was a founding member of the Dallas Friday group and served 2 terms as Chairman.
You may make your reservation by calling 214-948-8908. $30 for members and $35 for guests.
