He became the fourth President of the nonprofit International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX) in November 2008.

[clarification needed] He has a broad background in European and security issues as well as wide management experience overseas and in Washington, D.C.

He was the United States Ambassador to Turkey based in Ankara from September 21, 2000 through July 2003 and managed U.S. interests in the country through two severe domestic economic crises, a general election, the war in Afghanistan, and the liberation of Iraq.

A later posting to Beijing, China saw him serve as a political officer (1981–1983) then as staff assistant in the East Asian and Pacific Affairs Bureau.

Pearson is a member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies and the American Academy of Diplomacy.