“The future of U.S. government civilian surge capacities: lessons learned about interagency operations

The Fletcher Club of Washington D.C. Presents

A Discussion With

Ambassador John E. Herbst (F’78)

Outgoing Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization, U.S. Department of State
Incoming Director of the Center for Complex Operations, National Defense University

“The future of U.S. government civilian surge capacities: lessons learned about the planning and execution of interagency operations.”

Date: Monday, September 13th 2010
Time: 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Location:
German Marshall Fund of the U.S.
1744 R St, NW
(near Dupont Circle)
Washington, DC 20009
(Karen Donfried (F’88, ‘91) and Ian Lesser (F’82) from GMF Generously Offered Space For This Event)

Cost: $10(guests welcome)

RSVP at http://www.fletcherclubofdc.org/rsvp/20

Ambassador Herbst has over 30 years of career experience in the Foreign Service at the Department of State where he holds the rank of Career Minister. He has spent the last four years as Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization (S/CRS) at the U.S. Department of State and is stepping up this fall as the new Director for the Center for Complex Operations (CCO) at the Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) at the National Defense University (NDU).

As Coordinator, Ambassador Herbst led the development of U.S. Government civilian capacity to promote the stabilization and reconstruction of societies in transition from conflict or civil strife, and to provide support to countries at risk of instability. He was instrumental in the launch of the Civilian Response Corps. The Corps, which is now over 1,000 members strong, boasts representatives from an unprecedented number of civilian U.S. government agencies. While at S/CRS, Ambassador Herbst led the organization to support over 20 U.S. Embassies around the world in planning and coordination of conflict prevention and stabilization efforts. He has also championed the importance of lessons learned and best practices studies on stability operations.

Ambassador Herbst previously served as the U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine and Uzbekistan, as well as U.S. Consul General in Jerusalem; Principal Deputy to the Ambassador at Large for the Newly Independent States; and the Director of the Office of Independent States and Commonwealth Affairs. He has been presented with both the Presidential Distinguished Service Award and the State Department's Distinguished Honor Award.