Morris J. Amitay

Morris Amitay (“Morrie”) began his Washington career in the Executive Office of the President at the beginning of the Kennedy Administration following his graduation from the Harvard Law School. He also received a Masters’ Degree from Harvard in Public Administration, and earned his undergraduate degree from Columbia.

Amitay was appointed as a Foreign Service Officer in the U.S. Department of State in 1962. During his seven years in the Foreign Service, his specialty at the State Department was Political-Military. As a senior aide in the U.S. Senate, he handled defense and foreign affairs issues and dealt extensively with the State and Defense Departments at the highest levels.

After Amitay left the Senate, he became Executive Director of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and frequently testified at Congressional hearings on foreign policy and national security issues. Entering the private sector, he established a law/lobbying firm located on Capitol Hill. His defense clients have included the Northrop-Grumman Corporation, BAE Systems (London), General Dynamics, TRW, Elbit, and Israel Aerospace Industries.

Amitay served as Vice Chairman of JINSA for many years and helped lead sixteen of its annual visits to Israel of retired U.S. Generals and Admirals. His advice on national security issues has been sought by numerous U.S. Senators and Presidential candidates of both political parties. Amitay has addressed audiences at the Council on Foreign Relations, the American Enterprise Institute, and the U.S. Naval Academy. He has frequently been quoted in the national print media and, has often been interviewed by national and international media.