Last week, the Alaska World Affairs Council was honored to welcome Ambassador Aline Romanowski to Alaska for a memorable and meaningful visit that brought together diplomacy, security, culture, and community.
The visit began with a timely public program at the BP Energy Center, where Ambassador Romanowski was joined in conversation by retired General Joe Ralston. Moderated by General Ralston, the discussion focused on developments in the Middle East, drawing on both speakers’ extensive diplomatic and military experience. Their thoughtful exchange offered the audience a nuanced look at the region’s challenges and opportunities, grounded in real-world policy and leadership perspectives. The program concluded with audience Q&A, which further deepened the conversation and highlighted the community’s strong interest in global affairs.
Exploring Alaska
Beyond the stage, Ambassador Romanowski’s time in Anchorage offered opportunities to experience Alaska’s unique role in national and international conversations. She participated in a visit and roundtable discussion at the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies, where conversations explored Arctic security, strategy, and Alaska’s growing importance in a changing global landscape.
Adding a distinctly Alaskan element to her visit, Ambassador Romanowski also had the chance to go flightseeing over Southcentral Alaska with longtime friend of the Council, Paul Anderson—an unforgettable way to see the state’s scale and beauty firsthand.
Her visit also included a private tour of the Anchorage Museum with Alaska World Affairs Council Board Member and Anchorage Museum staff member Rebecca Pottebaum. The tour highlighted Alaska’s history, cultures, and global connections, reinforcing how local stories intersect with international issues.
About the Speaker
Ambassador Alina Romanowski brings more than four decades of distinguished public service to the World Affairs Councils of America, with deep leadership experience across diplomacy, defense, intelligence, and international development. Most recently, she served as U.S. Ambassador to Iraq (2022–2024) and Kuwait (2020–2022), where she helped advance key diplomatic and security priorities during a period of regional transformation. Throughout her career, Ambassador Romanowski has led efforts to build bridges across sectors and borders.
At the State Department, she served in senior roles including Principal Deputy Coordinator for Counterterrorism, Coordinator for U.S. Assistance to Europe and Eurasia, and Deputy Assistant Secretary in both the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. She was also the founding director of the Middle East Partnership Initiative Office—an early example of her commitment to partnerships rooted in education, dialogue, and long-term engagement. Her public service also includes leadership roles at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of Defense, where she served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs and founded the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies at the National Defense University.
Ambassador Romanowski’s public service has been recognized with numerous awards, including a Presidential Distinguished Rank Award and multiple honors from the State Department, Defense Department, and CIA. She holds both an M.A. and B.A. from the University of Chicago and studied at Tel Aviv University. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and speaks French, with additional studies in Arabic and Hebrew.
About the Moderator
General Joseph W. Ralston is a retired U.S. Air Force four-star general and distinguished national security leader who served more than 37 years in the U.S. military, including as Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff—the nation’s second-highest-ranking military officer—and as Supreme Allied Commander Europe for NATO and commander of U.S. European Command. A command pilot with more than 2,500 flying hours and 147 combat missions, he held a range of operational and staff commands throughout his career and played a key role in NATO operations and alliance expansion. Since retiring from active duty, General Ralston has served as Vice Chair at The Cohen Group and as a senior adviser on defense and international security issues, and he continues to contribute to public-policy discussions and strategic advisory roles.
