DOVER, N.H.–The James W. Foley Legacy Foundation announced today the addition of two members to its board of directors. They are Lt. Col. John Foley, brother of slain conflict journalist James Foley, and Peter Bergen, a journalist, author and vice president for global fellows and studies at New America.
James Foley, a freelance journalist, was beheaded by ISIS in 2014 after nearly two years in captivity in northern Syria. The foundation was created the same year by his family to improve the safety and treatment of independent freelance conflict journalists, to advocate for the safe return of Americans kidnapped abroad and to improve U.S. hostage policy.
The new board members will serve for three-year terms. They replace John W. Foley, father of James, and Thomas Durkin, a lecturer at Marquette University who was a friend of James. Durkin will continue to serve the foundation as a consultant.
“We are delighted that Peter and John have agreed to join the Foley Foundation board,” said Diane Foley, president and founder of the foundation. “They bring a wealth of experience in areas that will help us advance our mission of working for the return of American hostages, the safety of journalists working in dangerous areas overseas and the preservation of a free press.”
Air Force Lt. Col. Foley was deeply engaged in his family’s efforts to recover his older brother from captivity in Syria and today works closely with his family and the foundation to advance its causes. He has more than 16 years of operational and strategic military leadership experience and is known as a principled leader, seasoned project manager and skilled communicator with a record of successfully leading small and large teams in fast-paced, high-pressure environments. He is frequently selected for strategic level assignments, including tours at the military’s Central Command, European Command and Pacific Command, as well as at Air Force headquarters.
“I am truly grateful for the opportunity to continue my brother James’ legacy and make a positive impact in the lives of those we serve,” Lt. Col. Foley said.
Bergen is New America’s vice president for global studies and fellows, CNN’s national security analyst, a member of the Aspen Homeland Security Group and a fellow at Fordham University’s Center on National Security. He is also on the editorial board of Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, a leading scholarly journal in the field, and he is the author or editor of seven books about national security issues, three of which were New York Times bestsellers and four of which were named among the best nonfiction books of the year by The Washington Post.
“I’m delighted to be associated with the important work of the Foley Foundation, which has already made substantial progress to ensure that the government works more effectively to recover hostages and liaises more closely with the families of hostages,” Bergen said.
About the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation
James W Foley was an independent American conflict journalist who worked extensively across the Middle East. He was taken hostage by ISIS in Syria in 2012 and was killed in 2014. His impact on colleagues and friends has been highlighted in the awarding-winning documentary film “Jim: The James Foley Story”.
The James W. Foley Legacy Foundation is a registered nonprofit foundation that supports work in three key areas that were important to Jim’s life: American hostage freedom, protection of independent conflict journalists, and education of the public and university students regarding these silent crises.
For more information about the foundation, or to learn how you can make an impact, please visit www.jamesfoleyfoundation.orgor contact Amy Coyne at amy.coyne@jamesfoleyfoundation.org.
