Orr co-directed a bipartisan commission on post-conflict reconstruction for the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, acted as director of the Washington office of the non-partisan Council on Foreign Relations and was selected as one of six members of a bipartisan commission sent to Iraq last July to offer advice on rebuilding the country.

While at BCSIA, Orr has overseen the launch of two major research initiatives.

“[Orr] put together a deal establishing an academic exchange relationship with the Dubai University to promote better governance practices in the Middle East,” Effinger wrote. Effinger also credited Orr for the “internal reorganization” of the center to focus on “developing security challenges.”

Orr also points to a KSG initiative on state-building that will go forward after his departure as another major accomplishment during his brief time at the Belfer Center.

“Everyone two or three years ago laughed at the notion of nation-building,” he said. “I think everyone has learned from Afghanistan and Iraq that we need to do that.”

A U.N. spokesperson did not reply to a request for comment.

—Staff writer Margaret W. Ho can be reached at mwho@fas.harvard.edu.