Ercüment Kılıç is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a
degree in Economics and International Relations.
Upon being recognized around the US as a promoter of better Turkish-
American relations for over 30 years, Kılıç became the first and the last
civilian Turk, and Turkish-American Washington D.C. NGO leader in US
history to be invited to the White House by a US president – President
George W. Bush.
As a lecturer and promoter of Turkish history and culture, since the 1980s,
he has been invited numerous times to all 50 US states, as well as
Canada, Mexico, England, Germany, Holland, Switzerland, Austria,
Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan.
After being recognized as the President of ATAA (Assembly of Turkish
American Associations, Washington, D.C.), for his past work of promoting
the merits of ethnic non-governmental organizations in the US, by
invitation of the US State Department, he toured Europe and gave lectures
at European ethnic organizations and conducted press conferences in
Austria and Germany in early 2000s. As ATAA Board Member and
President, he also made formal visits to Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey,
Azerbaijan, and Israel, and held meetings with the presidents of
Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Israel.
As ATAA President, he has organized Congressional events and roundtable
panel discussions at the United States Capitol on Turkish-American
Relations, Turkey’s accession to the European Union, and the Annan Plan.
With the collaboration of the US Ambassador to Turkey, Hon. Robert
Pearson, he has organized the Turkish State Ballet Company and the
Modern Dance Company to give performances in Boston, New York City,
and Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
Kılıç became the first Turkish-American to be invited to speak at a US
Presidential Convention conference.
During the 1990s, Kılıç worked as an advisor to US Congressman Jim
Moody (D), and organized fact-finding missions for him and his US
Congress delegation to Azerbaijan, Turkey, Crimea/Ukraine, and Russia.
Kılıç's previous book about the lobbying industry in the US, is titled,
"America For Sale."
He is currently a lecturer at a university in Turkey.