Frank Talbot is a nonresident senior fellow with the North Africa Program within the Atlantic Council’s Middle East Programs, focusing on Libya as well as broader trends across North Africa. Previously, he served as the Middle East and North Africa team lead in the State Department’s Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, where he led regional policy initiatives, advised US diplomatic missions, and briefed congressional staff. He has also advised State Department leadership on Libya’s economic and security dynamics and managed the economic/sanctions file for the State Department’s Libya Desk.

Prior to his government service, Talbot worked for more than ten years with international nongovernmental organizations across conflict zones in the Middle East and Africa. He started his career as a Peace Corps volunteer serving consecutive assignments in Ukraine and Zambia.

Talbot holds a master’s degree in conflict analysis from George Mason University and a master’s degree in Mediterranean security from the University of Malta.