Lorne Craner returned to the International Republican Institute (IRI) as president in August, 2004, following his unanimous selection by IRI’s board of directors. He has led the strengthening of IRI’s programs in countries such as China, Colombia, Pakistan, Russia and Turkey. Since 2004, IRI has broadened its work in areas such as governance, women’s participation, access for the disabled, and the use of technology in democracy promotion. IRI has also built an unprecedented level of cooperation with U.S. and foreign democracy building organizations. IRI held its two most successful fundraisers following Craner’s return; the first honoring President George W. Bush, the second honoring Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and First Lady Laura Bush.

Previously, Craner was assistant secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor for Secretary of State Colin Powell. Among other accomplishments, he contributed to the conception and implementation of President Bush’s approach to democratization in the Middle East, sharpened the administration’s focus on human rights in Central Asia, initiated the first U.S. government programs to advance democracy in China, and helped construct the Millennium Challenge Account’s “good governance’ criteria. Upon his departure from the State Department, Secretary Powell presented Craner with the Distinguished Service Award, the department’s highest honor.

From 1995 to 2001, Craner, as IRI’s president, led the institute to new levels of programmatic achievement, fundraising, financial accountability and news coverage. He joined IRI as vice president for programs in 1993. From 1992-93 he served at the National Security Council as director of Asian Affairs, and from 1989-92 was deputy assistant secretary of state for legislative affairs. Craner was Senator John McCain’s legislative assistant (LA) for foreign policy from 1986-89; he began his career as then-Congressman Jim Kolbe’s foreign policy LA.

In June 2007, Craner was again confirmed by the U.S. Senate, to a seat on the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s board of directors. Craner chairs the Secretary of State’s Advisory Committee on Democracy Promotion and sits on the boards of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and the Internews Network. A member of the Council on Foreign Relations, he has testified on numerous occasions before House and Senate committees.

Craner received his master’s degree in national security studies from Georgetown University and his bachelor's degree from Reed College in Portland, Ore.