Edward Fishman

A former senior official at the US State Department, Edward Fishman advised Secretary of State John Kerry on Europe, Russia, and was at the table for decisions that reshaped the post-Cold War order. He designed sanctions in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, strengthened the Iran pressure campaign during nuclear negotiations, and coordinated long-range strategy across the Pentagon, Treasury, and White House. Twice recognised with the State Department’s Superior Honour Award, Fishman remains one of Washington’s most respected voices on economic statecraft.

Today, Edward Fishman is a Senior Research Scholar at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy and Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs, where his course on economic statecraft demystifies the tools of modern power for the next generation of policymakers. He is also an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security and a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council. His commentary appears regularly in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Foreign Affairs, and on leading broadcast outlets.

Fishman began his career as an editor at Foreign Affairs, then moved into government service after 9/11, driven by questions about how the US could confront adversaries without more wars. After public service, he pivoted into high-growth technology, helping companies like Via, Zoox, and IronNet Cybersecurity build products at the edge of transportation and national security. At Via, Edward Fishman launched a health transportation platform to improve access to care for underserved communities — an example of how he fuses innovation with public purpose. Fishman also invests in and advises mission-driven startups advancing American society and security.

Edward Fishman’s recent book, Chokepoints, is a behind-the-scenes account of economic warfare in the 21st century. It shows how the US dollar, advanced technologies, and critical supply chains have become the new levers of geopolitical power. Drawing on his own government experience and deep research, Fishman explains how sanctions, tariffs, and export controls are reshaping global order and how these tools can compel rivals, unsettle allies, and even risk war.