Richard Nephew

Richard Nephew is a Senior Research Scholar at Columbia University's Center on Global Energy Policy within the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). He returned to Columbia on July 1, 2024 after serving as the inaugural U.S. Coordinator on Global Anti-Corruption at the Department of State (2022-2024), during which time he was also elected President of the Conference of the States Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption.

His professional journey includes significant government service as Deputy Special Envoy for Iran (2021), Principal Deputy Coordinator for Sanctions Policy at the Department of State (2013-2015), and Director for Iran at the National Security Council (2011-2013), with additional senior civil service roles from 2003-2011.

Nephew's research focuses on the critical intersection of geopolitics and energy markets, with particular expertise in sanctions policy, nuclear issues, and Middle Eastern energy dynamics. His work examines how international relations shape global energy systems and how economic tools like sanctions can be effectively deployed in foreign policy contexts. He has published extensively on these topics, including his notable book 'The Art of Sanctions: A View from the Field' (Columbia University Press, 2018).

His recent publications through late 2025 demonstrate continued engagement with pressing energy geopolitics issues, particularly regarding Russian oil markets, Iran sanctions, and secondary sanctions enforcement mechanisms. These works consistently analyze the practical implications of policy decisions on global energy security and market stability.

• Bernstein adjunct fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy
• Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Perry World House, University of Pennsylvania
• Consultant at Go Beyond Compliance LLC
• Senior advisor at Horizon Engage

Nephew holds a Masters in Security Policy Studies and a Bachelors in International Affairs from The George Washington University. His consulting work through Go Beyond Compliance complements his academic research, maintaining a practical connection to real-world applications of sanctions policy and geopolitical risk assessment in the energy sector.