Center for a New American Security

Robert Leslie Deak is President and Chief Executive Officer of Bittachon Holdings, Inc, a firm based out of Rye, New York, that develops and manages companies in the United States and the broader Middle East. Previously, he served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of American National Bank of New York from 1985 to 1991 and before that was President and CEO of Deak-Perera US, Inc., from 1973 to 1985.

Deak is a participant in the Peace Action Network-Arab American Action Forum, which coordinates forums around the world to improve communications and understanding among Christian, Muslim, and Jewish communities. In this capacity, he has led public-private partnerships to fund schools in rural areas and rejuvenate the agricultural base in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.
 
Mr. Deak also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the National Defense University Foundation and the Board of Advisors of the Center for a New American Security. He is a Trustee of the Washington National Opera and the Deak Family Foundation. He received a B.A. in International Economics from Haverford College.