Henry P. Williams III

Dr. Henry P. Williams III serves as an Adjunct Professor at the Institute of World Politics (IWP), where he teaches IWP 685: "The Turks: Relations with the MENA, Europe and America, Then and Now." He concurrently teaches "Turkey and America, East and West – Where the Twain Meet" at Koç University in Istanbul since 2015, leveraging his background as a former Wall Street and International Investment Banker.

His academic credentials span multiple continents:

• Culver Military Academy
• University of Virginia
• University of Edinburgh, Scotland
• University of Florence, Italy
• Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy, Tufts University (dual Master’s degrees and Doctorate in International Law and Diplomacy)

Dr. Williams specializes in Middle Eastern Studies with deep expertise in Turkish political dynamics, Ottoman legal history, and transatlantic relations. His research integrates historical analysis with contemporary security challenges, particularly examining Turkey’s role in NATO and Eastern Mediterranean geopolitics. Fluent in four foreign languages (French, Greek, Italian, Turkish), he contextualizes regional complexities through firsthand cultural and linguistic experience.

His publication portfolio reveals consistent focus on Turkey’s strategic positioning within Western alliances, analyzing tensions between Ankara’s regional ambitions and NATO cohesion. Articles demonstrate expertise in security dilemmas arising from energy exploration disputes, maritime boundary conflicts, and diplomatic maneuvering in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Professionally active beyond academia, Dr. Williams serves as President of the Charlottesville Branch of the English-Speaking Union and maintains involvement with the Sons of the American Revolution as a former Virginia State President. His 23-year board service with the American Friends of Turkey underscores sustained regional engagement.