FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
David Solimini, [email protected], 202.478.3431
The Stimson Center is proud to announce the appointment of F. David Diaz as a Non-Resident Fellow in its Conventional Defense Program, where he will examine the dynamics and impact of the global arms trade. His work will focus on the proliferation of conventional weapons to non-state actors, the effectiveness of interagency and international coordination, and defense and security policies and strategies.
“Dave brings tremendous knowledge and depth of practical experience to Stimson as we work to tackle the challenges posed by irresponsible arms transfers,” said Rachel Stohl, who leads the program and serves as Managing Director. “David’s expertise and first-hand on-the-ground experience will allow us to expand our work and develop innovative solutions to the destabilizing effect of irresponsible or illicitly trafficked weapons around the world. We are incredibly excited to welcome him to Stimson.”
“I’m thrilled to join the Stimson Center and contribute to the outstanding work of the Conventional Defense Program,” said Dave Diaz. “They represent a key source of objective insight on the risks and responsibilities inherent in global arms transfers, and I look forward to working with the team in identifying practical and sustainable solutions that advance responsible policy options.”
About David Diaz
Prior to joining Stimson, Dave spent over a decade as a Foreign Affairs Officer in a variety of roles within the State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs. Most recently, he served as a Strategic Coordinator, primarily synchronizing interagency efforts to defeat the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria and contributing to strategic plans and cooperative activities that build partner nation security capabilities to reduce instability in Africa and the Middle East. While at State, Dave also served as Deputy Director of the U.S. Government’s Interagency Task Force on man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS), overseeing USG efforts to reduce global threats from illicit proliferation of these weapons to terrorists and insurgents. In the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement, Dave worked with European governments and organizations to reduce or better secure stockpiles of conventional weapons and munitions, including establishing the Regional Approach to Stockpile Reduction (RASR) for the Western Balkans.
During his previous service in the U.S. Department of Defense, Dave established a program at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency that trained foreign militaries to reduce illicit weapons flows by improving their physical security and stockpile management. He launched the Multinational Small Arms and Ammunition Group (MSAG), an ad hoc group of experts that continues to coordinate international assistance and develop best practices and technical guidelines. As a technical advisor to U.S. delegations at the UN and the OSCE, Dave also helped coordinate interagency implementation of small arms and light weapons agreements and conventional arms control treaties. While working in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, he focused on post-conflict stability operations. Dave is also a former U.S. Marine Corps Officer.
About the Stimson Center
The Stimson Center is a nonpartisan policy research center working to protect people, preserve the planet, and promote security & prosperity. Stimson’s award-winning research serves as a roadmap to address borderless threats through concerted action. More at www.Stimson.org.
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To read David Diaz’s full bio, click here.