This event was a part of the Atlantic Council’s Defense-Industrial Policy Series, featuring a discussion on Turkey’s defense-industrial policy with Dr. Ismail Demir, Turkish undersecretary for defense industries, on Thursday, May 26, from 10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

Dr. Ismail Demir was appointed head of the undersecretariat for defense industries (SSM) in April 2014. Prior to this, he worked at Turkish Airlines, beginning in 2003 as training director before being promoted to senior technical officer in 2005 and chief executive officer in May 2006. Dr. Demir has also worked at several universities and research institutions in Saudi Arabia, the United States, and Canada between 1992 and 2003. He earned two master of science degrees in the United States and completed his doctoral degree in mechanical engineering at Washington State University. Dr. Demir earned his bachelor’s degree from the aeronautical engineering department of Istanbul Technical University in 1982.

The Defense-Industrial Policy Series is a platform for senior government executives in defense and aerospace to address the public policies that shape these industries’ markets. By engaging the perspective of government leaders about issues at the interface of defense ministries and industries, the series aims to cultivate a constituency for practical solutions to these problems.