New Director of the Africa Center for Strategic Studies

The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Amanda J. Dory as the new Director for the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, effective June 20, 2022. She succeeds Ms. Kate Almquist Knopf, who served in the position from July 2014 until December 2021.

Ms. Dory is the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs. She has served in multiple leadership roles in the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Policy, including Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, and acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Plans and Posture. She also served on the National War College faculty and as associate dean for outreach. She is an alumna of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and received a master’s degree with concentrations in international economics and African studies from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

The mission of the Africa Center for Strategic Studies is to advance African security by expanding understanding, providing a trusted platform for dialogue, building enduring partnerships, and catalyzing strategic solutions. Its vision is security for all Africans championed by effective institutions accountable to their citizens.

The Department congratulates Ms. Dory on her appointment as the next Director of the Africa Center. The Department also expresses its gratitude to Ms. Almquist Knopf on her successful tenure at the Africa Center, for which she received the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service.