IRI Announces New Board Members; Thanks Retiring Directors for Their Contributions to IRI’s Mission

Washington, D.C.—The International Republican Institute (IRI) honored retiring board members Brent Scowcroft, Margaret Tutwiler and J. William Middendorf last week, and welcomed three new members to the Institute’s board of directors: Javier Palomarez, CEO of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Judy Black, Policy Director at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck; and Christopher Fussner, President of TransTechnology.

“Over the years, IRI has been blessed with a strong Board of Directors, and we’re grateful to General Scowcroft, Ambassador Tutwiler and Ambassador Middendorf for their years of service,” said IRI President Ambassador Mark Green. “I am confident that tradition will continue with our new members, who bring immense experience and expertise to the board. We look forward to working with them to continue to advance the cause of liberty and democracy worldwide.”  

Brent Scowcroft is a leading international statesman, who served as National Security Advisor to Presidents Gerald Ford and George H.W. Bush. He is the president and founder of the Scowcroft Group, an international business consultancy, and was recently appointed to IRI’s International Advisory Council. Margaret Tutwiler is a former Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs (2003-2004), and Ambassador J. William Middendorf served as Secretary of the Navy from 1974 to 1977 and as Ambassador to the Netherlands.

“General Scowcroft has not only been a remarkable board member, he has been an inspiration to many of us at IRI,” Ambassador Green remarked. “His service is a reminder that great moments in history don’t simply happen: good leaders make them happen.”

Javier Palomarez

Javier Palomarez is the President and CEO of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC), promoting the economic growth, development and interests of more than 4.2 million Hispanic-owned businesses.  Prior to joining the USHCC, Palomarez was an executive at Bank of America and Sprint. He has spoken at venues including the Republican and Democratic National Conventions and is regularly featured in media outlets including CNN, Fox, The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.

Judy Black

Judy Black is a Policy Director at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreckm, helping Fortune 500 companies, non-profits, and industry trade groups navigate and participate in the public policy process. In addition to her roles in the private sector, Black served in the White House from 1987 to 1989 as the Special Assistant to President Reagan for Intergovernmental Affairs, and has held positions as the secretary for the Republican National Convention (1984), and treasurer for the National Federation of Republican Women (1986-1987).

Christopher Fussner

Christopher J. Fussner is Founder and President of TransTechnology Worldwide, a market leader in the sales and distribution of surface mount technology with several offices Asia and North America. Prior to forming TransTechnology in 1988, Fussner headed Far East Sales for Amistar Corporation based in Seoul, Korea and Singapore and began his career working with relief and refugee resettlement in West Africa and Malaysia.