Michael Mahdesian served for seven years (1993-2000) as the Deputy Assistant Administrator for USAID’s Bureau of Humanitarian Response. His main duties included overseeing the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) and the Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI). During this period, he was integrally involved in shaping USAID’s response to Haiti, Rwanda, Bosnia, Kosovo, Indonesia, and other crisis spots around the world. Mr. Mahdesian led the first U.S. assessment team to the Democratic Republic of Congo after the fall of Mobutu, and played a key role in helping shape the U.S. assistance program there. He participated in USAID’s Bosnia Task Force as coordinator of the humanitarian and transition programs for Bosnia. In addition, Mr. Mahdesian has chaired several U.S. Interagency Task Forces on improving U.S. and International Response to Complex Humanitarian Emergencies.

A native of California, Mahdesian earned a Master’s Degree in Urban Planning with a focus on International Development from UCLA in 1981. He is on the Board of Advisors at UCLA’s School of Public Policy, the Board of Directors of Operation USA and a member of the Pacific Council on International Policy and the Los Angeles Business Council.