Established in 2000, the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies is a U.S. Department of Defense institution for building relationships and understanding in the NESA region. The NESA Center supports the theater security cooperation effort of four Regional Combatant Commands: United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM), United States European Command (USEUCOM), and United States Pacific Command (USPACOM) and is one of five regional centers that fall under the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. With its 21st Century security and academic focus, the NESA Center seeks to build on the strong multilateral relationships between the U.S government and its allies in the region; the Near East and South and Central Asian regional governments and their armed forces, by focusing on broader multilateral approaches and capacity building to address regional security issues and concerns. The NESA Center is located at Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington, DC. Mission statement NESA Mission To enhance security in the Near East and South Asia by building sustained, mutually beneficial relationships; fostering regional cooperation on security issues; and promoting effective communications and strategic capacity through free and candid interaction in an academic environment. The NESA Center fosters open communication and educational opportunities for military and civilian representatives from the NESA region and other participating countries. Its academic environment uniquely facilitates a cross-cultural examination of the events, ideas, and challenges that shape this critical region. The NESA Center has implemented programs on countering ideological support for terrorism, increasing and improving strategic communication and outreach to the region and supporting other strategic goals. Achieving the NESA Mission The following activities lead to achieving the core mission of developing a well-informed community of leaders and decision makers: Sponsoring foundational seminars, primarily in Washington, D.C. Reaching a larger audience of strategic thinkers and adding depth via a robust program of local and in-region engagement activities Sustaining interest and promoting growth through networked outreach and alumni activities. Countries in the NESA Region Senior Leadership The Center’s senior leadership come to NESA after long and distinguished careers with institutions such as the Department of State and the United States Military. These individuals contribute their knowledge and experiences to the Center’s mission on a daily basis. Faculty The NESA Center faculty represents a diverse assemblage of top-tier academics and expert practitioners from academia, diplomacy and defense. The NESA Center's faculty is composed of retired governmental, diplomatic and