Civilian Service

Eberly served in multiple roles as a senior civilian in support of the U.S. mission in Iraq, covering all phases from pre-war occupation to transition to Iraqi control. He was among the first civilians in Iraq following the removal of Saddam Hussein, serving as a senior advisor under both General Jay Garner and Ambassador Paul Bremer of the Coalition Provisional Authority. He also served as the coordinator of the Ministry of Youth and Sport, as well as the Iraqi Olympic Committee, until an interim government could be formed.

In Afghanistan, from 2009-11, Eberly served as a senior advisor for the State Department in Kandahar, coordinating counterinsurgency programs at the peak of the U.S. surge. His responsibility was to train and mentor regional and local leaders in governance, and to oversee State Department-funded programs throughout southern Afghanistan. He spent months co-deployed with U.S. special forces in rural, mountainous areas, providing support for village-based development and counterinsurgency. 

Following his deployed role, he served for a year at the State Department as a senior advisor for Afghanistan, assisting in the coordination of national elections.

Government Roles

Eberly’s service includes over two decades in Washington, serving in key positions in Congress, the White House during two administrations, USAID, Department of Defense (Senior Executive Service), and the State Department. He held key positions on Arab world development, Iraq and Afghanistan reconstruction, and tsunami recovery.

As Deputy Assistant to President George W. Bush, Eberly was a principle architect of the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. He coordinated staffing, programs, and legislative initiatives during the initial year of the office, which eventually expanded its reach to include over 10 domestic (as well as USAID) departments, creating opportunities for small community partners to implement government contracts and grants.

Nonprofit Initiatives

Eberly also spent 10 years as a social entrepreneur, founding and building several successful nonprofit organizations. His initiatives include one of the largest state policy think tanks in the country and National Fatherhood Initiative, begun in 1994 and now the largest civic organization seeking to increase the number of children raised by committed, engaged fathers.

Writing & Thought Leadership

Eberly is an accomplished intellectual leader and internationally recognized author of numerous books on topics of American society and international relations. His titles include an award-winning book on nation-building in the 21st century, as well as a volume on civil society that is in circulation among reformers in the Middle East. He is the author of Liberate and Leave, a critically praised book that captures the experience inside early post-Saddam Iraq.

Corporate Leadership

Eberly recently concluded eight years in executive positions with DynCorp International, a top U.S. defense company. His tenure included deployed positions as VP of Operations in Iraq and VP for Middle East, North Africa. Eberly serves in business leadership roles in emergency response, refugee resettlement, and humanitarian assistance.

Education & Awards

Eberly holds graduate degrees in fields of government study from Harvard Kennedy School and George Washington University, and did doctoral studies at Penn State University.

For his service in support of the U.S. mission abroad, he is the recipient of numerous distinguished service awards, including the highest award granted by the Secretary of Defense for joint civilian-military service, and an expeditionary service award from the Secretary of State.