Peter M. Weichlein has served as Executive Director of the International Election Monitors Institute since its creation in 2005. He concurrently holds the position of Executive Director of the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress.
He commenced his career as Program Director at the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress (USAFMC) in February of 1999, assuming responsibility over all international activities of the organization. In 2003, he was promoted to become Executive Director of USAFMC. In this capacity, he oversees all domestic and international programs of the Association, whose membership is comprised of about 600 former Senators and Representatives.
Mr. Weichlein was born and raised in Munich, Germany, the son of a German father and an American mother. He immigrated to the United States at the age of 16 in 1984, where he finished high school and his undergraduate studies (Penn State University, BA in History and BA in German Literature). After working as a paralegal for two years, Mr. Weichlein returned to Germany to attend law school at the Freie Universität in Berlin. He spent four semesters studying European and German civil and public law. He completed his legal studies in Washington, D.C., graduating from the Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, cum laude in 1998.
While attending law school full-time, Peter Weichlein worked part-time as a law clerk for Senator Chuck Grassley’s Judiciary Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the Courts. Upon passing the Maryland Bar Examination, Mr. Weichlein became an Assistant Counsel to the Subcommittee and was one of several legal advisors to Senator Grassley (R-IA) during the impeachment trial of President Clinton.
As part of his international portfolio with the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress, Peter Weichlein has gained in-depth knowledge of U.S. foreign policy and international relations. His legal education combined with his legislative experience has enabled him to comprehend the often complex issues governing U.S. international relations. He has researched and written on international trade issues including anti-dumping/countervailing duties, WTO adjudication, foreign sales corporations, government subsidies, global mergers, the introduction of the Euro, and genetically-modified organisms. His work on foreign policy issues has included NATO expansion, global terrorism, international organizations such as the UN, weapons of mass destruction, the National Missile Defense Shield, and the European Security and Defense Initiative. In addition, Mr. Weichlein has reported on elected officials and elections both in the United States and abroad. He has briefed Members of Congress, senior Congressional staff, Members of the Bundestag, Länder officials, business representatives, and Bundestag staff on the issues affecting U.S. foreign policy. As Executive Director of the USAFMC, Mr. Weichlein continues to be involved in all international activities of the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress.
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