Robert Wexler, President, Center for Middle East Peace and Economic Cooperation

By Ian Wilhelm

Background: Mr. Wexler, who will join the center at the start of next year, is a Democratic congressman from Florida, representing parts of Broward and Palm Beach Counties. He has served seven terms in the House of Representatives and is a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee. Before coming to Washington, he spent six years in the Florida Senate.

Education: Earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Florida, and a law degree from George Washington University.

Why he was hired: "Robert will hit the ground running and employ his skill and vision to help us achieve the peace that Israelis and Arabs seek," S. Daniel Abraham, founder and chairman of the Washington center, said in a statement.

His agenda: The job "offers me an unparalleled opportunity to work on behalf of Middle East peace for an important and influential nonprofit institute," Mr. Wexler said in a statement.

Legislative history: Besides his foreign-policy work, Mr. Wexler has been a vocal supporter of changes in health care, public education, and veterans' benefits.

Media spotlight: In 2006, his Congressional staff members were featured in a short-lived television documentary series called The Hill.