You are cordially invited to a special lecture with
Dr. Mark Luce
Afghanistan Analyst
Strategic Studies Section – CENTCOM
on the topic of
Conquering Cultural Canyons
Wednesday, April 6
4:00 PM
The Institute of World Politics
1521 16th Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
This lecture is part of IWP’s Distinguished Military Speakers Series.
Dr. Mark Luce is a member of the 4th Military Information Support Group’s Strategic Studies Section for the CENTCOM Region. The Strategic Studies Section is made up entirely of Army civilian Military Information Support analysts who provide area expertise, linguistic skills, and an organic social research capability to the regional battalion. All analysts have an advanced degree, and all read and speak at least one of the languages in their area of expertise. Analysts write the MISO/PSYOP portions of the Department of Defense Intelligence Production Program (DODIPP) and produce MISO/PSYOP-specific studies. The analysts participate in contingency planning and deploy to support operations routinely.
Languages: Fluent in Persian (Dari, Farsi & Tajik), Arabic and Pashtu
Education:
Ph.D. Islamic Thought, University of Chicago
M.A. Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, University of Chicago
M.P.S. (ABD) International Development, Cornell university
M.A. Near Eastern Languages and Literatures, University of Washington
B.A. (double major) Classics [Greek & Latin] and Ancient History, William Jewell College
Regional Subject Matter Expertise
- Afghanistan (culture, languages, history and literature)
- Islamic Thought (Early Islam & Salafi Movements)
- Afghan-Pakistani and Afghan- Iranian Relations
Current Areas of Special Interest
- Afghan Drivers of Conflict (Land, Water Disputes, Ethnic & Sectarian Strife)
- Afghan Leadership Dynamics
- Sub-National Governance and Development
- Afghan Judicial Systems
Overseas Work Experience in Private & NGO Sectors:
Teaching/Training
Education & Technical Training (Afghanistan, Iran, U.A.E., Pakistan, Jordan & Albania) – 17 years
Program Management
Post-Conflict Reconstruction & Refugee Assistance (Landmine Awareness, Education, Preventative Medicine, Curative Medicine, Public Health, Sanitation and Vector Control, Income Generation, Vocational and Business Training and Small Grant Administration) – 8 years
Regional Experience:
Libya (3 yrs.)
Afghanistan/Pakistan (7.5 yrs.)
The U.A.E. [Abu Dhabi], (7 yrs.)
Iran (1.5 yrs.)
Jordan (4 yrs.)
Yemen (1 yr.)
Albania (2 yrs.)
Thailand (1.5 yrs.)
Tunisia and Egypt (3 months ea.)