nesa center for strategic studies
2023 Air War College International Officer Seminar
On 23 June 2023, the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies (NESA Center) hosted 54 international fellows and faculty from the Air War College. The students were briefed at Fort McNair in Washington, D.C. by NESA Center Academic Dean Dr. Roger Kangas on the Security...
2023 Eastern Mediterranean Security Roundtable
The Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies, in partnership with the Turkish Asian Center for Strategic Studies (TASAM), a leading Turkish think-tank, held a roundtable discussion in Istanbul, Türkiye, from 17–19 July 2023. Scholars from Bahrain, Egypt, Israel,...
2025 Lebanese Armed Forces Seminar
From 7–11 April 2025, the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies hosted a seminar titled “The United States, Lebanon, and Security Challenges and Opportunities” at National Defense University (NDU) in Washington, D.C. The program was designed to provide an academic setting in...
Community Oriented Policing & Countering Violent Extremism
From 14-18 November 2021, the NESA Center for Strategic Studies hosted a hybrid seminar organized in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Interior titled “Community Oriented Policing and Countering Violent Extremism” in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The workshop was designed to help participants...
Connecting Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and Beyond
From 9–12 July 2023, the NESA Center hosted the 10th annual Strategic Studies Network (SSN) Central Asia Working Group meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan. The NESA Center partnered with the Caspian Policy Center (CPC) and the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy (ADA) to manage the...
International Military Officers’ Forum
From 1-5 November 2021, the NESA Center hosted foreign military officers assigned to U.S. Central Command in Tampa in Washington D.C. for an International Military Officers’ Forum titled “World Power Competition and Middle East Turmoil.” NESA Center experts, including Professor Dr. Richard...
Iraq Capstone and Iraq’s National Defense College Visit
On 20-24 September 2021, the NESA Center hosted a delegation from the Iraq Capstone and Iraq’s National Defense College for a five-day seminar series. Amidst the ongoing Iraq-United States Strategic Dialogue, the United States Department of Defense sought to provide its Iraqi counterparts with...
LTG Terry Wolff Completes Term as NESA Center Director
Last month, the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies bid farewell to outgoing Director LTG Terry Allen Wolff, USA (Ret.). LTG Wolff started at the NESA Center after previously serving as the Director of Strategic Plans and Policy, J-5 for the Joint Staff. LTG Wolff was the...
National Defense College of the United Arab Emirates Washington Study Visit
The National Defense College (NDC) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) sent a student delegation to the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies for two days of classroom instruction as part of their Washington Study Visit on 8–9 March 2023. Previously, the group visited the...
Nepal Ambassador and Defense Attaché Engagement with the NESA Center
On 7 December 2023, the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies Acting Director COL David Lamm, USA (Ret.) and Academic Dean Dr. Roger Kangas hosted Nepal’s Ambassador Sridhar Khatri and Defense Attaché Brigadier Bhuwan Satyal, at NESA Center offices for discussions on...
NESA (SSN)-AFRICOM-IEMed Human Security Approach for 2030 Workshop
From 10–11 January 2024, the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies/Strategic Studies Network (SSN), in partnership with U.S. Africa Command and the European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed), conducted the 10th annual workshop entitled “NESA (SSN)-AFRICOM-IEMed Human...
NESA-AFRICOM Transnational Threats Part II/II: A Look at Shared Illicit Activities – Illegal Mining, Cultural Smuggling, and Wildlife Crime Online Roundtable
On 4 October 2023, NESA Center Professor Anne Moisan and Academic Specialist Fahad Malaikah conducted the “Transnational Threats: A Look at Shared Illicit Activities – Illegal Mining, Cultural Smuggling, and Wildlife Crime” online roundtable, the last in the series of in-person and...
Omani Chief of Staff Sultan Armed Forces Program
On 21 September 2023, the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies conducted a one-day program in Washington, D.C., with eight military officers from the Omani Chief of Staff Sultan Armed Forces. The day began with introductions and a welcome from NESA Center Acting Director COL David...
Post-Grad Senior Military Executive Engagement International NDU Fellows Welcome Dinner
The Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies, in partnership with the Africa Center for Strategic Studies (ACSS), hosted a welcome dinner as part of the "Post-Grad Senior Military Executive Engagement" for foreign African colonels and general officers attending the U.S. Senior...
Qatari Diplomatic Institute Virtual Seminar
From 08-10 November 2021, Dr. Gawdat Bahgat led the Qatari Diplomatic Institute Virtual Seminar to help foster a shared understanding of the evolving strategic landscape in the Middle East and promote mutual cooperation. The seminar was attended by over 100 officials from the Qatari Ministry...
Senior Executive Seminar – Maritime Security: Present Challenges and Opportunities for Cooperation
From 21–25 April 2025, the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies conducted a Senior Executive Seminar (SES), held in Washington, D.C., featuring 43 participants from 33 countries. The seminar focused on maritime security, developments in adaptable technology for the maritime...
Senior Executive Seminar “Nuclear Weapons Proliferation: Strategic Implications for the NESA Region”
From 20 September to 24 September, the NESA Center conducted a weeklong Senior Executive Seminar on the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and the strategic implications for the NESA region. Dr. Gawdat Bahgat, Dr. Hassan Abbas, and Dr. Richard Russell moderated discussions with...
The 6th Great Power Competition Conference
On 8 December 2022, the University of South Florida (USF), in collaboration with the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies, held the 6th Great Power Competition (GPC) Conference titled “Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine: Implications for the Central Region.” This...
The NESA Center Welcomes New Director Ambassador John Desrocher
We are delighted to welcome Ambassador John Desrocher as the new Director of the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies. With 35 years of dedicated service in the U.S. Foreign Service, Ambassador Desrocher brings a wealth of experience from his assignments across North Africa, the...
The Post-Assad Era in Syria with Brigadier General Antoine Abisamra
On 23 January 2025, Dr. Michael Sharnoff and Professor Anne Moisan hosted a virtual roundtable titled "The Post-Assad Era in Syria" with a MENA program Alumnus, Brigadier General Antoine Abisamra. His timely talk was based on his current fieldwork on the ground in Syria and his unique security...
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Maritime Governance Innovation Video Contest
In a contest organized by the Yokosuka Council on Asia-Pacific Studies (YCAPS) in full partnership with Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies, individuals and small organizations with...
2024 Women’s History Month and the NESA Center WPS E-Book
March marks the U.S. Congress’s designation of Women’s History Month to recognize and celebrate the many contributions of women throughout history and today. Just recently, on March 8th, International Women’s Day was celebrated. Both events recognize the contribution of women and carried with...