Ambassador William M. Bellamy (ret.)
Director
Ambassador William M. Bellamy (ret.) officially became director of the Africa Center for Strategic Studies on 1 October 2008. At the time of his appointment, he was resident senior fellow in the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington D.C. Previously he had served as Senior Vice President of National Defense University.
A career diplomat, Ambassador Bellamy was U.S. ambassador to Kenya from 2003 to 2006. During his tenure in Kenya he directed U.S. security programs in the Horn of Africa. He also supervised the U.S. government’s largest foreign HIV/AIDS program and led multinational efforts to combat corruption and promote good governance in Kenya. He served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs (2001-2003) and as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs (2000-2001).
His earlier diplomatic assignments include Deputy Chief of Mission in Canberra (1997-2000), Political Minister-Counselor in Paris (1993-1997) and Political Counselor in Pretoria and Cape Town (1991-1993). In South Africa he was closely engaged in U.S. diplomatic efforts to promote a peaceful transition from apartheid to democratic rule.
Ambassador Bellamy holds a BA in history from Occidental College and an MA in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy (Tufts University). He holds certificates from the Institute Universitaire de Hautes Etudes Internationales in Geneva and the Ecole Nationale d’Administration in Paris.
Ambassador Bellamy is the recipient of a Presidential Meritorious Service Award, the Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Distinguished Civilian Service Award, and a Distinguished Honor Award and two Superior Honor Awards conferred by the Secretary of State. Prior to joining the Foreign Service, he worked as a journalist in San Francisco and public relations officer for a major bank in Los Angeles.
Publications
Contact
Michael E. Garrison, Colonel, U.S. Army (ret.)
Deputy Director
Mr. Mike Garrison, Colonel U.S. Army (ret.), assumed duties as the Deputy Director of the Africa Center for Strategic Studies in May 2009. He brings more than 28 years of management, policy development, peacekeeping and operations experience including over a decade of uninterrupted African political and military affairs experience to his new position as a senior member of the Africa Center’s leadership team. He is the Director’s chief operating officer and principle advisor for strategic planning and policy analysis and responsible for the development of Africa Center programs to support the United States policy communities’ African affairs goals.
Mr. Garrison retired from the U.S. Army in May after 28 years of active duty and assumed this senior executive level position at the Africa Center. Immediately prior to his retirement, he served as the Director for the Southern Africa Region in the Office of the Secretary of Defense for African Affairs. There he managed all aspects of bilateral and multilateral defense strategy, policies, programs, and relations between the Department of Defense and nine southern African countries.
His association with Africa started in 1996 with his assignment to the Multinational Force and Observers, in Sinai Egypt, where he commanded the Aviation Unit which provided aviation support to the 11-nation peacekeeping force. In 1999, Mr. Garrison was assigned to U.S. European Command as a Political/Military affairs officer responsible for all U.S. military security cooperation and contingency plans for the 11 southern most African nations. He was subsequently assigned as the Defense and Army Attaché to the Republic of Kenya from July 2002 through June 2005, and then assigned as the Defense and Army Attaché to the Republic of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland, from June 2005 through June 2008. During his tour in South Africa, he was deployed to Sudan as the Defense Liaison Officer for several months to support the Embassy during the Abuja peace negotiation. In these positions, he was responsible for the management of all uniformed political-military relations with each host nation governments.
During his Army career, Mr. Garrison held several Army and Joint command and staff positions serving in Germany, Africa, the Middle East, and the United States. He was awarded numerous Department of Defense, U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force awards and decorations and earned the U.S. Army Master Aviator badge and has over 2,800 rotary- and fixed-wing flight hours.
Colonel Garrison holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona; a Master of Science degree in Aerospace Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University; and a Master of Science degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army War College, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, was an Honor Graduate from the U.S. Army Rotary Wing Aviator Qualification Course, and a Distinguished Graduate from the U.S. Army Armor Officers Basic Course.
Areas of Expertise
Political-military affairs for Southern and Eastern Africa, Aviation Security, Department of Defense and U.S. Embassy Country Team operations, Africa Contingency Operations Training and Assistance Program (ACOTA), U.S. Security Assistance programming
Contact
Katherine J. Almquist
Senior Fellow for Security and Development
Prior to coming to the Africa Center for Strategic Studies in March 2010 as Senior Fellow, Security and Development, Katherine J. Almquist served as Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Africa, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) from May 2007 to January 2009. During this time, she led and directed the largest regional bureau in the U.S. government’s primary foreign assistance agency, comprising more than 2,000 staff in 26 bilateral and regional missions and headquarters. The Africa Bureau manages more than $5 billion annually of development, reconstruction, and humanitarian assistance to 48 sub-Saharan African countries. Ms. Almquist now advises and consults on a range of international matters including foreign assistance, conflict management, peace building, and African affairs.
Ms. Almquist served as USAID/Sudan Mission Director from April 2006 to May 2007, reopening the mission after 14 years of closure. In November 2005, she was designated the United States Representative to the Assessment and Evaluation Commission, the international commission mandated to oversee implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement. She relinquished this assignment in April 2007.
From May 2004 to April 2006, Ms. Almquist served as Deputy Assistant Administrator of USAID’s Bureau for Africa. Prior to this, she was Special Assistant and Senior Policy Advisor to the USAID Administrator from 2001-2004.
Before joining USAID, Ms. Almquist served as Chief of Staff for the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority and Chief of Staff for the Executive Office for Administration and Finance of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts from 1999-2001. From 1992-1999, she worked for the international relief and development agency World Vision in both Washington, D.C., and Geneva, Switzerland.
She holds a Master of Arts degree in international relations with concentrations in African studies and conflict management from the Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, D.C., and a Bachelor of Arts degree in international relations from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.
Areas of Expertise
Development and Humanitarian Assistance; Post-conflict Reconstruction; Stabilization of Fragile States; Conflict Management; Sudan
Publications
U.S. Foreign Assistance to Africa
Journal of International Affairs, Spring / Summer 2009, Vol. 62, No. 2.
Renewed Conflict in Sudan
Council on Foreign Relations, March 2010.
Contact
Colonel Xavier Collignon
Senior French Representative
Colonel Xavier Collignon is the senior French representative to the Africa Center for Strategic Studies since August 2008. As a Marine Officer he has acquired vast experience with Africa, ranging from academic periods to combat missions, in addition to cooperation with African militaries. Colonel Collignon’s 25 years of service has led him to Africa numerous times, including operations inside Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gabon, the Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, and most recently Chad. Other assignments have included service in the former Yugoslavia at Sarajevo 1994-1995. Staff Positions have included a tour with the Army Press information center in Paris in 1996-2000, being the Chief of Operations of the 5th Marine Regiment in Djibouti from 2001 to 2003, and Chief of Crisis Response Cell “Cote d’Ivoire” in Paris, France from 2003 to 2006. His most recent assignment prior to coming to the Africa Center for Strategic Studies was as Commanding Officer of the 21st Marine Infantry Regiment from 2006 to 2008.
Colonel Collignon is a graduate of the French Military Academy of St. Cyr, receiving his commission in 1986 as a lieutenant in the French Army. He is also a 2000 graduate of the Army Staff College, and a 2001 graduate of the Joint Staff College.
Colonel Collignon’s decorations include the Legion of Honor (chevalier), the Order of National Merit (chevalier), the “Ordre du 27 juin” from Djibouti (officer), the Cross of Military Valor with two stars, bronze and silver, as well as the National Defense Medal “échelon Or” with a bronze star.
Areas of Expertise
Peacekeeping, Regional and International Security Cooperation, Côte d’Ivoire, Chad
Contact
Elisabeth Feleke
Regional Program Manager
Ms. Elisabeth Feleke is currently working as the Regional Program Manager for West Africa for the Africa Center for Strategic Studies West Africa office based in Dakar, Senegal. Ms. Feleke liaises with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and U.S bilateral missions in the region on regional security issues. She initiates contact with key African defense, military and civic leaders and international partners; conducts research and solicits input on timely security topics in West Africa. She is also responsible for building outreach programs with Africa Center community members in 15 countries. In addition, she manages and coordinates all aspects of the Africa Center mission (operations, administration) in the region.
Prior to assuming her current position, Ms. Feleke worked as Senior Program Officer in the Academic Section of the Africa Center. She was responsible for developing curricula and executing academic programs such as the introduction to African Security Issues seminar designed to provide a basic understanding of political, social, military, and economic aspects of security in Africa; and to introduce major U.S. policies and programs regarding Africa to US Government personnel. With the Africa Center, Ms. Feleke also served as Deputy Director, Community Outreach and Public Affairs. She oversaw the participant affairs process, as well as the development of an Africa Center Community Network Program. She was responsible for designing and implementing outreach strategies and serves as a point person for outreach and external relations with the Africa Center Community and other pertinent organizations, to include international organizations, non-governmental organizations, think tanks, academic institutions, and corporations.
Prior to joining the Africa Center, Ms. Feleke worked as a research management officer for the World Agroforestry Center in Nairobi, Kenya. She was responsible for managing the operation of the Research Division with sites in over 10 countries around the world. She monitored project administration and research management processes and developed a knowledge/information management system for the institute. Ms. Feleke earned a master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. She speaks English, French, Spanish, and Amharic.
Areas of Expertise
Environment and Security, Natural Resource Management, ECOWAS and African Sub-Regional Organizations Security Issues, Development Management and Security, General U.S Security Policy in Africa
Publications
Contact
Dr. Brad Gutierrez
Academic Chair of Security Studies
Dr. Brad A. Gutierrez is the Academic Chair of Security Studies at the Africa Center of Strategic Studies. In this capacity, Dr. Gutierrez oversees curriculum and program development in the area of security studies focusing on security challenges in Africa (including those pertaining to human security, democratic transition and conflict) and the role of national security strategies in addressing these challenges.
Prior to joining the Center, Dr. Gutierrez served in a number of positions at the U.S. Dept of Homeland Security, Center for Naval Analyses and on the Headquarters staff of the U.S. Air Force, examining and facilitating, among other things, the interagency collaboration of U.S. policies toward Africa. During a 23-year military career which preceded his government service, Dr. Gutierrez served as a combat pilot, professor of political science and military diplomat. His teaching and research interest focused on Africa Politics, Central European Politics and democratic transitions of authoritarian militaries.
Dr. Gutierrez holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California, San Diego, an M.A. in Russian and East European Studies from Indiana University and a B.S. in International Relations with a concentration in African politics from the U.S. Air Force Academy. He is proficient in Hungarian and has basic skills in French.
Areas of Expertise
African Security Challenges, Democratization, Security Sector Reform, Regional and International Security Cooperation, Zimbabwe
Contact
Dr. Mathurin C. Houngnikpo
Academic Chair of Civil-Military Relations
Dr. Mathurin C. Houngnikpo is the Academic Chair of Civil-Military Relations at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies. In this capacity, Dr. Houngnikpo oversees curriculum and program development in the area of civil-military relations focusing on Africa’s military history, democratic civil control of the security sector, and issues of accountability, transparency and good governance.
Prior to joining the Center, Dr. Houngnikpo taught in the Program of International Studies at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He also held several teaching positions with both the Metropolitan State College of Denver and the University of Denver in Denver, Colorado. Dr. Houngnikpo served as Head of the Department of Consular Documents for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Benin from 1983-1986 and again from 1989-1990. He also served as Associate Editor for Africa Today, a publication of the University of Denver’s Graduate School in International Studies. Dr. Houngnikpo was a Fulbright Grantee, and participated in the George W. Shepherd Fellowship as well as a recipient of grants and awards for research and leadership. He is the author of Africa’s Elusive Quest for Development (2006); Economic Integration & Development in Africa (with H. Kyambalesa, 2006); Not Yet Democracy: West Africa’s Slow Farewell to Authoritarianism (with B. N’Diaye and A. Saine, 2005); L’Illusion Démocratique en Afrique (2004); Des Mots pour les Maux de l’Afrique (2004); Determinants of Democratization in Africa (2001), and other books and articles. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Paris VIII, Saint-Denis, France and a Ph.D. in International Studies from the University of Denver (US). Dr. Houngnikpo is fluent in French and has a working knowledge of Spanish.
Publications
Areas of Expertise
Security Sector Reform, Democratization, Civil Military Relations, West Africa
Contact
Dr. John F. Kelly
Associate Dean
Dr. John F. Kelly arrived at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies as an Associate Dean in February 2010, bringing 35 years of experience in higher education, civil government and military science. He came to Washington, DC as an Associate Professor from the University of Windsor in Ontario, Canada, where he was a Fulbright Scholar conducting research on comparative federalism. Dr. Kelly’s academic research has focused on retained sovereignty and policy development of subnational government, and he has received multiple teaching awards. He also served as an elected member of the Board of Governors of Wayne State University from 1998 to 2002.
Professor Kelly holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science (international relations and diplomatic history) and was a Graduate Fellow of Wayne State University. He also has a Juris Doctor degree from Michigan State University and is a diplomate in military law from the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General School. He completed graduate studies at Georgetown University and holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Wayne State University. His baccalaureate degree is in political science and education from the University of Michigan with Honors. Dr. Kelly served as a Special Attorney General in Michigan from 1995 to 1999. He is a member of the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States, the Michigan Supreme Court and all subordinate Federal and State bars as well as the US Court of Military Appeals.
Associate Dean Kelly was elected to the Michigan State Senate in 1978 from Detroit at age 28 and served four consecutive four-year terms. In 1994 he stood for election to the U.S. Senate requiring retirement from the state legislature. In the Michigan Senate he served with distinction and leadership on committees with jurisdiction over the judiciary, banking and economic development, health policy, local government and public finance. John was elected at his first caucus to the leadership post of Majority Whip and authored over 100 pieces of legislation and amendments that became law, including the state investment anti-apartheid laws for South Africa and the McBride antidiscrimination employment laws for Northern Ireland. He served on the National Commission on Uniform Law, the Michigan Law Revision Commission and as a delegate to the National Conference on State Legislatures. Associate Dean Kelly served on a National Commission on Distressed States and is committed to projects to revitalize the City of Detroit. He served until 2009 as the elected Vice-Chair of the Michigan Film Advisory Board and is currently the Director of the Detroit Windsor International Film Festival going into its third year.
John retired in 2009 as a Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, Civil Affairs branch. As a Foreign Area Officer, he has served as a Defense Attache on multiple tours of Active Duty assigned primarily to the Republic of South Africa. In his reserve capacity he spent seven years as a liaison to Federal law enforcement on counter-terrorism research. A Graduate of Army Command and General Staff College he also spent 10 years as a staff Judge Advocate General. He has been decorated repeatedly for his contributions to the defense establishment during times of war.
Areas of Expertise
Internal Security and Homeland Defense, Civilian Policy Development, Electoral Reform and Democracy, Southern Africa
Contact
Dr. Assis Malaquias
Academic Chair for Defense Economics
Dr. Assis Malaquias is the Academic Chair for Defense Economics at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies. In this capacity, Dr. Malaquias oversees curriculum and program development in the area of defense economics focusing on sound practices for the management of security sector resources in Africa, the relationship between security strategy and the allocation/utilization of national resources, and appropriate budgeting and procurement models in Africa. Prior to this position, Dr. Malaquias served as Associate Dean of International and Intercultural Studies and Professor of Government at St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY. He was Extraordinary Associate Professor of Political Studies at the University of Western Cape in South Africa and a visiting Professor at Stellenbosch University in South Africa.
He holds a Master’s degree in Economics and a Ph. D. in Political Science from Dalhousie University, Canada. His areas of specialization include International Relations, International Security, International Political Economy, and African Politics. Dr. Malaquias’ current research focuses on the political economy security in central and southern Africa. His most recent publications include Rebels and Robbers: Violence in Post-Colonial Angola (Uppsala: Nordic Africa Institute, November 2006); “Angola: How to Lose a Guerrilla War,” in Morten Boas and Kevin Dunn, eds., African Guerrillas: Raging Against the Machine (Boulder: Lynne Rienner, 2007); “Thirsty Powers: The United States, China and Africa’s Energy Resources,” in Manuela Franco, ed., Portugal, os Estados Unidos e a Africa Austral (Lisbon: Instituto Português de Relações Internacionais, 2006).
Publications
Areas of Expertise
Maritime Security, Political Economy of Security, Defense Economics, Lusophone Africa
Contact
Dr. Monde Muyangwa
Academic Dean
Dr. Monde Muyangwa currently serves as Academic Dean at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies. In this capacity, she oversees all curriculum and program development for the Africa Center, including in the areas of Security Studies, Counter-Terrorism, Civil-Military Relations, Defense Economics, and Conflict Management
Dr. Muyangwa possesses an extensive background in African development and U.S.-Africa relations. She currently participates on a number of Africa-related programs, including serving on the Advisory Council of the Ibrahim Index of African Governance, a project of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation. Before joining the Africa Center, she worked as Director of Research and then Vice President for Research and Policy at the National Summit on Africa from 1997-2000. There, she was responsible for overseeing the research, writing, and production of the Summit’s publications pertaining to U.S.-Africa relations.
Prior to joining the Summit, she worked as Director of International Education Programs at New Mexico Highlands University, and as Tutor in African History, Politics and Economics at St. Clare’s College, Oxford. She has served as a development and gender consultant, and has worked on a wide range of community development projects in southern Africa in the areas of education, housing, health, and nutrition. She has co-authored, with Margaret Vogt, a publication for the International Peace Academy titled An Assessment of the Organization of African Unity’s Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution.
She holds a Ph.D. in International Relations and a BA in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the University of Oxford, as well as a BA in Public Administration and Economics from the University of Zambia. She was a Rhodes Scholar, a Wingate Scholar, and the University of Zambia Class of 1986 Valedictory Speaker.
Areas of Expertise
Southern Africa
Contact
Dr. Joseph Siegle
Director of Research
Dr. Joseph Siegle is the Director of Research at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies. In this capacity, he directs the Center’s research program with the aim of generating practical, evidence-based policy analysis that can contribute to addressing on-going and over-the-horizon security challenges in Africa. Dr. Siegle also oversees the Center’s Fellows program that aims to enrich understanding of Africa’s strategic and security priorities by providing an international platform for African scholars and analysts.
Prior to joining the Center, Dr. Siegle has served in a variety of scholar and practitioner roles. He was the Douglas Dillon Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, a Senior Research Scholar at the Center for International and Security Studies at the University of Maryland (CISSM), a Senior Advisor for Democratic Governance at the international consulting firm, DAI, a Country Director with the international NGO, World Vision, and a Peace Corps Volunteer in Liberia. He has worked in some 40 countries around the world including numerous conflict-affected contexts in Western, Southern, and Eastern Africa.
Dr. Siegle’s research focuses on Africa-wide security challenges and trends; the linkages between political governance, development, and security; post-conflict reconstruction and the stabilization strategies for fragile states; redressing the natural resource curse; and strengthening institutions of accountability. He has published widely in leading journals and newspapers and is co-author of The Democracy Advantage: How Democracies Promote Prosperity and Peace (Routledge, revised edition 2009). Dr. Siegle earned his Ph.D. from the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy (International Security and Economic Policy) and holds an M.A. in Agricultural Economics (African food security) from Michigan State University.
Publications
Areas of Expertise
Post-conflict Reconstruction, Security and Development, Africa Security Challenges, Democratization, Stabilization of Fragile States, Natural Resources and Conflict, Trans-Africa
Contact
Ambassador William M. Bellamy (ret.)
Director
Ambassador William M. Bellamy (ret.) officially became director of the Africa Center for Strategic Studies on 1 October 2008. At the time of his appointment, he was resident senior fellow in the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington D.C. Previously he had served as Senior Vice President of National Defense University.
A career diplomat, Ambassador Bellamy was U.S. ambassador to Kenya from 2003 to 2006. During his tenure in Kenya he directed U.S. security programs in the Horn of Africa. He also supervised the U.S. government’s largest foreign HIV/AIDS program and led multinational efforts to combat corruption and promote good governance in Kenya. He served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs (2001-2003) and as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs (2000-2001).
His earlier diplomatic assignments include Deputy Chief of Mission in Canberra (1997-2000), Political Minister-Counselor in Paris (1993-1997) and Political Counselor in Pretoria and Cape Town (1991-1993). In South Africa he was closely engaged in U.S. diplomatic efforts to promote a peaceful transition from apartheid to democratic rule.
Ambassador Bellamy holds a BA in history from Occidental College and an MA in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy (Tufts University). He holds certificates from the Institute Universitaire de Hautes Etudes Internationales in Geneva and the Ecole Nationale d’Administration in Paris.
Ambassador Bellamy is the recipient of a Presidential Meritorious Service Award, the Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Distinguished Civilian Service Award, and a Distinguished Honor Award and two Superior Honor Awards conferred by the Secretary of State. Prior to joining the Foreign Service, he worked as a journalist in San Francisco and public relations officer for a major bank in Los Angeles.
Publications
Contact
Michael E. Garrison, Colonel, U.S. Army (ret.)
Deputy Director
Mr. Mike Garrison, Colonel U.S. Army (ret.), assumed duties as the Deputy Director of the Africa Center for Strategic Studies in May 2009. He brings more than 28 years of management, policy development, peacekeeping and operations experience including over a decade of uninterrupted African political and military affairs experience to his new position as a senior member of the Africa Center’s leadership team. He is the Director’s chief operating officer and principle advisor for strategic planning and policy analysis and responsible for the development of Africa Center programs to support the United States policy communities’ African affairs goals.
Mr. Garrison retired from the U.S. Army in May after 28 years of active duty and assumed this senior executive level position at the Africa Center. Immediately prior to his retirement, he served as the Director for the Southern Africa Region in the Office of the Secretary of Defense for African Affairs. There he managed all aspects of bilateral and multilateral defense strategy, policies, programs, and relations between the Department of Defense and nine southern African countries.
His association with Africa started in 1996 with his assignment to the Multinational Force and Observers, in Sinai Egypt, where he commanded the Aviation Unit which provided aviation support to the 11-nation peacekeeping force. In 1999, Mr. Garrison was assigned to U.S. European Command as a Political/Military affairs officer responsible for all U.S. military security cooperation and contingency plans for the 11 southern most African nations. He was subsequently assigned as the Defense and Army Attaché to the Republic of Kenya from July 2002 through June 2005, and then assigned as the Defense and Army Attaché to the Republic of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland, from June 2005 through June 2008. During his tour in South Africa, he was deployed to Sudan as the Defense Liaison Officer for several months to support the Embassy during the Abuja peace negotiation. In these positions, he was responsible for the management of all uniformed political-military relations with each host nation governments.
During his Army career, Mr. Garrison held several Army and Joint command and staff positions serving in Germany, Africa, the Middle East, and the United States. He was awarded numerous Department of Defense, U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force awards and decorations and earned the U.S. Army Master Aviator badge and has over 2,800 rotary- and fixed-wing flight hours.
Colonel Garrison holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona; a Master of Science degree in Aerospace Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University; and a Master of Science degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army War College, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, was an Honor Graduate from the U.S. Army Rotary Wing Aviator Qualification Course, and a Distinguished Graduate from the U.S. Army Armor Officers Basic Course.
Areas of Expertise
Political-military affairs for Southern and Eastern Africa, Aviation Security, Department of Defense and U.S. Embassy Country Team operations, Africa Contingency Operations Training and Assistance Program (ACOTA), U.S. Security Assistance programming
Contact
Katherine J. Almquist
Senior Fellow for Security and Development
Prior to coming to the Africa Center for Strategic Studies in March 2010 as Senior Fellow, Security and Development, Katherine J. Almquist served as Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Africa, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) from May 2007 to January 2009. During this time, she led and directed the largest regional bureau in the U.S. government’s primary foreign assistance agency, comprising more than 2,000 staff in 26 bilateral and regional missions and headquarters. The Africa Bureau manages more than $5 billion annually of development, reconstruction, and humanitarian assistance to 48 sub-Saharan African countries. Ms. Almquist now advises and consults on a range of international matters including foreign assistance, conflict management, peace building, and African affairs.
Ms. Almquist served as USAID/Sudan Mission Director from April 2006 to May 2007, reopening the mission after 14 years of closure. In November 2005, she was designated the United States Representative to the Assessment and Evaluation Commission, the international commission mandated to oversee implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement. She relinquished this assignment in April 2007.
From May 2004 to April 2006, Ms. Almquist served as Deputy Assistant Administrator of USAID’s Bureau for Africa. Prior to this, she was Special Assistant and Senior Policy Advisor to the USAID Administrator from 2001-2004.
Before joining USAID, Ms. Almquist served as Chief of Staff for the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority and Chief of Staff for the Executive Office for Administration and Finance of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts from 1999-2001. From 1992-1999, she worked for the international relief and development agency World Vision in both Washington, D.C., and Geneva, Switzerland.
She holds a Master of Arts degree in international relations with concentrations in African studies and conflict management from the Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, D.C., and a Bachelor of Arts degree in international relations from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.
Areas of Expertise
Development and Humanitarian Assistance; Post-conflict Reconstruction; Stabilization of Fragile States; Conflict Management; Sudan
Publications
U.S. Foreign Assistance to Africa
Journal of International Affairs, Spring / Summer 2009, Vol. 62, No. 2.
Renewed Conflict in Sudan
Council on Foreign Relations, March 2010.
Contact
Colonel Xavier Collignon
Senior French Representative
Colonel Xavier Collignon is the senior French representative to the Africa Center for Strategic Studies since August 2008. As a Marine Officer he has acquired vast experience with Africa, ranging from academic periods to combat missions, in addition to cooperation with African militaries. Colonel Collignon’s 25 years of service has led him to Africa numerous times, including operations inside Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gabon, the Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, and most recently Chad. Other assignments have included service in the former Yugoslavia at Sarajevo 1994-1995. Staff Positions have included a tour with the Army Press information center in Paris in 1996-2000, being the Chief of Operations of the 5th Marine Regiment in Djibouti from 2001 to 2003, and Chief of Crisis Response Cell “Cote d’Ivoire” in Paris, France from 2003 to 2006. His most recent assignment prior to coming to the Africa Center for Strategic Studies was as Commanding Officer of the 21st Marine Infantry Regiment from 2006 to 2008.
Colonel Collignon is a graduate of the French Military Academy of St. Cyr, receiving his commission in 1986 as a lieutenant in the French Army. He is also a 2000 graduate of the Army Staff College, and a 2001 graduate of the Joint Staff College.
Colonel Collignon’s decorations include the Legion of Honor (chevalier), the Order of National Merit (chevalier), the “Ordre du 27 juin” from Djibouti (officer), the Cross of Military Valor with two stars, bronze and silver, as well as the National Defense Medal “échelon Or” with a bronze star.
Areas of Expertise
Peacekeeping, Regional and International Security Cooperation, Côte d’Ivoire, Chad
Contact
Elisabeth Feleke
Regional Program Manager
Ms. Elisabeth Feleke is currently working as the Regional Program Manager for West Africa for the Africa Center for Strategic Studies West Africa office based in Dakar, Senegal. Ms. Feleke liaises with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and U.S bilateral missions in the region on regional security issues. She initiates contact with key African defense, military and civic leaders and international partners; conducts research and solicits input on timely security topics in West Africa. She is also responsible for building outreach programs with Africa Center community members in 15 countries. In addition, she manages and coordinates all aspects of the Africa Center mission (operations, administration) in the region.
Prior to assuming her current position, Ms. Feleke worked as Senior Program Officer in the Academic Section of the Africa Center. She was responsible for developing curricula and executing academic programs such as the introduction to African Security Issues seminar designed to provide a basic understanding of political, social, military, and economic aspects of security in Africa; and to introduce major U.S. policies and programs regarding Africa to US Government personnel. With the Africa Center, Ms. Feleke also served as Deputy Director, Community Outreach and Public Affairs. She oversaw the participant affairs process, as well as the development of an Africa Center Community Network Program. She was responsible for designing and implementing outreach strategies and serves as a point person for outreach and external relations with the Africa Center Community and other pertinent organizations, to include international organizations, non-governmental organizations, think tanks, academic institutions, and corporations.
Prior to joining the Africa Center, Ms. Feleke worked as a research management officer for the World Agroforestry Center in Nairobi, Kenya. She was responsible for managing the operation of the Research Division with sites in over 10 countries around the world. She monitored project administration and research management processes and developed a knowledge/information management system for the institute. Ms. Feleke earned a master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. She speaks English, French, Spanish, and Amharic.
Areas of Expertise
Environment and Security, Natural Resource Management, ECOWAS and African Sub-Regional Organizations Security Issues, Development Management and Security, General U.S Security Policy in Africa
Publications
Contact
Dr. Brad Gutierrez
Academic Chair of Security Studies
Dr. Brad A. Gutierrez is the Academic Chair of Security Studies at the Africa Center of Strategic Studies. In this capacity, Dr. Gutierrez oversees curriculum and program development in the area of security studies focusing on security challenges in Africa (including those pertaining to human security, democratic transition and conflict) and the role of national security strategies in addressing these challenges.
Prior to joining the Center, Dr. Gutierrez served in a number of positions at the U.S. Dept of Homeland Security, Center for Naval Analyses and on the Headquarters staff of the U.S. Air Force, examining and facilitating, among other things, the interagency collaboration of U.S. policies toward Africa. During a 23-year military career which preceded his government service, Dr. Gutierrez served as a combat pilot, professor of political science and military diplomat. His teaching and research interest focused on Africa Politics, Central European Politics and democratic transitions of authoritarian militaries.
Dr. Gutierrez holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California, San Diego, an M.A. in Russian and East European Studies from Indiana University and a B.S. in International Relations with a concentration in African politics from the U.S. Air Force Academy. He is proficient in Hungarian and has basic skills in French.
Areas of Expertise
African Security Challenges, Democratization, Security Sector Reform, Regional and International Security Cooperation, Zimbabwe
Contact
Dr. Mathurin C. Houngnikpo
Academic Chair of Civil-Military Relations
Dr. Mathurin C. Houngnikpo is the Academic Chair of Civil-Military Relations at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies. In this capacity, Dr. Houngnikpo oversees curriculum and program development in the area of civil-military relations focusing on Africa’s military history, democratic civil control of the security sector, and issues of accountability, transparency and good governance.
Prior to joining the Center, Dr. Houngnikpo taught in the Program of International Studies at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He also held several teaching positions with both the Metropolitan State College of Denver and the University of Denver in Denver, Colorado. Dr. Houngnikpo served as Head of the Department of Consular Documents for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Benin from 1983-1986 and again from 1989-1990. He also served as Associate Editor for Africa Today, a publication of the University of Denver’s Graduate School in International Studies. Dr. Houngnikpo was a Fulbright Grantee, and participated in the George W. Shepherd Fellowship as well as a recipient of grants and awards for research and leadership. He is the author of Africa’s Elusive Quest for Development (2006); Economic Integration & Development in Africa (with H. Kyambalesa, 2006); Not Yet Democracy: West Africa’s Slow Farewell to Authoritarianism (with B. N’Diaye and A. Saine, 2005); L’Illusion Démocratique en Afrique (2004); Des Mots pour les Maux de l’Afrique (2004); Determinants of Democratization in Africa (2001), and other books and articles. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Paris VIII, Saint-Denis, France and a Ph.D. in International Studies from the University of Denver (US). Dr. Houngnikpo is fluent in French and has a working knowledge of Spanish.
Publications
Areas of Expertise
Security Sector Reform, Democratization, Civil Military Relations, West Africa
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Dr. John F. Kelly
Associate Dean
Dr. John F. Kelly arrived at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies as an Associate Dean in February 2010, bringing 35 years of experience in higher education, civil government and military science. He came to Washington, DC as an Associate Professor from the University of Windsor in Ontario, Canada, where he was a Fulbright Scholar conducting research on comparative federalism. Dr. Kelly’s academic research has focused on retained sovereignty and policy development of subnational government, and he has received multiple teaching awards. He also served as an elected member of the Board of Governors of Wayne State University from 1998 to 2002.
Professor Kelly holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science (international relations and diplomatic history) and was a Graduate Fellow of Wayne State University. He also has a Juris Doctor degree from Michigan State University and is a diplomate in military law from the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General School. He completed graduate studies at Georgetown University and holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Wayne State University. His baccalaureate degree is in political science and education from the University of Michigan with Honors. Dr. Kelly served as a Special Attorney General in Michigan from 1995 to 1999. He is a member of the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States, the Michigan Supreme Court and all subordinate Federal and State bars as well as the US Court of Military Appeals.
Associate Dean Kelly was elected to the Michigan State Senate in 1978 from Detroit at age 28 and served four consecutive four-year terms. In 1994 he stood for election to the U.S. Senate requiring retirement from the state legislature. In the Michigan Senate he served with distinction and leadership on committees with jurisdiction over the judiciary, banking and economic development, health policy, local government and public finance. John was elected at his first caucus to the leadership post of Majority Whip and authored over 100 pieces of legislation and amendments that became law, including the state investment anti-apartheid laws for South Africa and the McBride antidiscrimination employment laws for Northern Ireland. He served on the National Commission on Uniform Law, the Michigan Law Revision Commission and as a delegate to the National Conference on State Legislatures. Associate Dean Kelly served on a National Commission on Distressed States and is committed to projects to revitalize the City of Detroit. He served until 2009 as the elected Vice-Chair of the Michigan Film Advisory Board and is currently the Director of the Detroit Windsor International Film Festival going into its third year.
John retired in 2009 as a Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, Civil Affairs branch. As a Foreign Area Officer, he has served as a Defense Attache on multiple tours of Active Duty assigned primarily to the Republic of South Africa. In his reserve capacity he spent seven years as a liaison to Federal law enforcement on counter-terrorism research. A Graduate of Army Command and General Staff College he also spent 10 years as a staff Judge Advocate General. He has been decorated repeatedly for his contributions to the defense establishment during times of war.
Areas of Expertise
Internal Security and Homeland Defense, Civilian Policy Development, Electoral Reform and Democracy, Southern Africa
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Dr. Assis Malaquias
Academic Chair for Defense Economics
Dr. Assis Malaquias is the Academic Chair for Defense Economics at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies. In this capacity, Dr. Malaquias oversees curriculum and program development in the area of defense economics focusing on sound practices for the management of security sector resources in Africa, the relationship between security strategy and the allocation/utilization of national resources, and appropriate budgeting and procurement models in Africa. Prior to this position, Dr. Malaquias served as Associate Dean of International and Intercultural Studies and Professor of Government at St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY. He was Extraordinary Associate Professor of Political Studies at the University of Western Cape in South Africa and a visiting Professor at Stellenbosch University in South Africa.
He holds a Master’s degree in Economics and a Ph. D. in Political Science from Dalhousie University, Canada. His areas of specialization include International Relations, International Security, International Political Economy, and African Politics. Dr. Malaquias’ current research focuses on the political economy security in central and southern Africa. His most recent publications include Rebels and Robbers: Violence in Post-Colonial Angola (Uppsala: Nordic Africa Institute, November 2006); “Angola: How to Lose a Guerrilla War,” in Morten Boas and Kevin Dunn, eds., African Guerrillas: Raging Against the Machine (Boulder: Lynne Rienner, 2007); “Thirsty Powers: The United States, China and Africa’s Energy Resources,” in Manuela Franco, ed., Portugal, os Estados Unidos e a Africa Austral (Lisbon: Instituto Português de Relações Internacionais, 2006).
Publications
Areas of Expertise
Maritime Security, Political Economy of Security, Defense Economics, Lusophone Africa
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Dr. Monde Muyangwa
Academic Dean
Dr. Monde Muyangwa currently serves as Academic Dean at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies. In this capacity, she oversees all curriculum and program development for the Africa Center, including in the areas of Security Studies, Counter-Terrorism, Civil-Military Relations, Defense Economics, and Conflict Management
Dr. Muyangwa possesses an extensive background in African development and U.S.-Africa relations. She currently participates on a number of Africa-related programs, including serving on the Advisory Council of the Ibrahim Index of African Governance, a project of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation. Before joining the Africa Center, she worked as Director of Research and then Vice President for Research and Policy at the National Summit on Africa from 1997-2000. There, she was responsible for overseeing the research, writing, and production of the Summit’s publications pertaining to U.S.-Africa relations.
Prior to joining the Summit, she worked as Director of International Education Programs at New Mexico Highlands University, and as Tutor in African History, Politics and Economics at St. Clare’s College, Oxford. She has served as a development and gender consultant, and has worked on a wide range of community development projects in southern Africa in the areas of education, housing, health, and nutrition. She has co-authored, with Margaret Vogt, a publication for the International Peace Academy titled An Assessment of the Organization of African Unity’s Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution.
She holds a Ph.D. in International Relations and a BA in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the University of Oxford, as well as a BA in Public Administration and Economics from the University of Zambia. She was a Rhodes Scholar, a Wingate Scholar, and the University of Zambia Class of 1986 Valedictory Speaker.
Areas of Expertise
Southern Africa
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Dr. Joseph Siegle
Director of Research
Dr. Joseph Siegle is the Director of Research at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies. In this capacity, he directs the Center’s research program with the aim of generating practical, evidence-based policy analysis that can contribute to addressing on-going and over-the-horizon security challenges in Africa. Dr. Siegle also oversees the Center’s Fellows program that aims to enrich understanding of Africa’s strategic and security priorities by providing an international platform for African scholars and analysts.
Prior to joining the Center, Dr. Siegle has served in a variety of scholar and practitioner roles. He was the Douglas Dillon Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, a Senior Research Scholar at the Center for International and Security Studies at the University of Maryland (CISSM), a Senior Advisor for Democratic Governance at the international consulting firm, DAI, a Country Director with the international NGO, World Vision, and a Peace Corps Volunteer in Liberia. He has worked in some 40 countries around the world including numerous conflict-affected contexts in Western, Southern, and Eastern Africa.
Dr. Siegle’s research focuses on Africa-wide security challenges and trends; the linkages between political governance, development, and security; post-conflict reconstruction and the stabilization strategies for fragile states; redressing the natural resource curse; and strengthening institutions of accountability. He has published widely in leading journals and newspapers and is co-author of The Democracy Advantage: How Democracies Promote Prosperity and Peace (Routledge, revised edition 2009). Dr. Siegle earned his Ph.D. from the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy (International Security and Economic Policy) and holds an M.A. in Agricultural Economics (African food security) from Michigan State University.
Publications
Areas of Expertise
Post-conflict Reconstruction, Security and Development, Africa Security Challenges, Democratization, Stabilization of Fragile States, Natural Resources and Conflict, Trans-Africa