Dr. Bassel Hajjar is a distinguished security and geopolitical expert, Former military officer, and academic leader with over two decades of strategic experience in leadership, training, and conflict resolution. As the Chairman of Vidya Insight, he leads with a vision grounded in rigorous strategic analysis, multidisciplinary education, and a profound commitment to advancing institutional resilience in the face of complex global challenges.
Dr. Hajjar served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Lebanese Armed Forces, culminating his military career as the Head of the Regional Studies Department at the Center for Research and Strategic Studies. In this capacity, he directed high-level strategic research and supervised policy analyses that addressed regional threats, national security imperatives, and the shifting balance of international power. His leadership extended to multiple operational and academic functions, including commanding key infantry units, overseeing civil aviation security at Rafic Hariri International Airport, and instructing future military leaders at the Military Academy. His field experience is enriched by participation in international peacekeeping and specialized military training missions in the United States, France, Türkiye, and the Gulf region.
Parallel to his military achievements, Dr. Hajjar has cultivated a dynamic academic career, serving as a coordinator and professor in several prestigious institutions. He led the Joint Master Program in Strategic Studies at the Lebanese University in partnership with the Paris Graduate School and has taught subjects ranging from geopolitical theory and political geography to European and comparative law across Lebanon, France, and Qatar. Through his teaching at the Command and Staff College, several Lebanese universities, the Paris Graduate School, he has influenced a generation of students, officers, and diplomats across three continents.
Renowned for his contributions to training and institutional development, Dr. Hajjar has designed and delivered dozens of workshops and training programs targeting professionals in security, diplomacy, law, and governance. As a certified trainer and lecturer for institutions such as the Union of Arab Banks, LAU, and AUST, he has led programs on negotiation skills, geopolitical risk management, and counterterrorism, combining theoretical depth with operational insight. His involvement in international conferences—from leadership innovation to the geopolitics of natural resources—reflects his engagement with the most pressing challenges of modern statecraft.
Dr. Hajjar is also an experienced mediator and conflict resolution expert. As former Director of the Joint Office for Mediation and Arbitration and a certified specialist in negotiation and peaceful dispute settlement, he bridges academic scholarship with practical application. He has led mediation training for institutions and contributed to peaceful resolution frameworks in politically sensitive environments. His expertise is regularly sought in evaluating doctoral and master’s research across institutions in Paris, Abidjan, Beirut, and beyond.
Holding dual doctoral degrees—one in Modern History from the Lebanese University and another in Geopolitics from the Paris Graduate School in association with California University FCE—Dr. Hajjar combines historical consciousness with forward-looking strategic acumen. His scholarly output includes two published books, over fifteen research articles, and a growing portfolio of policy-oriented publications exploring asymmetric warfare, energy security, regional diplomacy, and critical thinking in geopolitics.
Decorated with the Lebanese Army’s Order of Merit and several military commendations, Dr. Hajjar embodies the intersection of leadership, scholarship, and service. Fluent in Arabic, French, and English, he continues to contribute as an academic, consultant, and strategic advisor dedicated to fostering resilience, dialogue, and informed policymaking in a turbulent world.