Charles Snyder

Former Senior Advisor to the State Department’s International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Bureau; Former National Intelligence Officer for Africa

Professional Experience

Charles Snyder has served as a consultant on Africa for various DOD and private entities since retiring in October 2013.  He has also lectured on Africa for the Joint Forces Staff College, and the JFK Special Warfare Center.

Mr. Snyder served as Senior Advisor to State Department’s International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Bureau (INL) from 2011 until retiring in October 2013. Previously, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Civilian Police and African, Asian, European and Middle East Programs in the same bureau (2007-2011). He provided program and policy direction for civilian police, anti-crime and counter narcotics assistance programs totaling over $1 billion.  During this period, he oversaw the launch of new programs in Lebanon and the West Bank.  He also developed and initiated the International Police Peacekeeping Operations Support Program (IPPOS) as well as the International Police Education Training Program (IPET).

Before moving to INL, Mr. Snyder served as the Department’s Senior Representative on Sudan until January 2006. He was charged with guiding the policy and operations associated with bringing the Navaisha Peace Accords to fruition.  Mr. Snyder served for eight months as Acting Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs until July 2004 and was responsible for setting US policy toward Africa while managing a Bureau with 48 constituent Posts and over four thousand employees. Earlier, while serving as Principal Deputy and Deputy Assistant Secretary (2001-2003), he was policy point person for the Sudan Peace Initiative, and framed policy toward east and central Africa. Previously (1995-2001) as Director of the Office of Regional Affairs in the Africa Bureau, he supported the Assistant Secretary on crosscutting policy and program issues including democracy, conflict resolution, human rights, labor, multilateral organizations, public affairs, congressional affairs, and crisis management.

A career intelligence officer and Africanist, he served as National Intelligence Officer for Africa from 1992 until April 1995. During this period, he supervised the production of several National Intelligence Estimates on Africa, including a major review of the continental prospects and problems as well as a detailed forecast of the potential impact of HIV/Aids.  Earlier, as Senior Political-Military Advisor to the Africa Bureau, he served on the team which mediated the Tripartite Agreement between Cuba, Angola, and South Africa; led the Joint Military Monitoring Commission which implemented the ceasefire along the Angola-Nambia border; co-chaired the military discussions supporting the Portuguese mediation of the Angolan Civil War; and led the U.S. technical team supporting the successful Italian effort to negotiate an end to the Mozambican Civil War. LTC Snyder retired from the U.S. Army in 1991 after serving for 22 years.  During that career, he was responsible to the Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations for all African military training and security assistance programs as well as programs for Egypt, Lebanon and Israel; he was assigned to the State Department in 1985 and served as military advisor to the Africa Bureau until retirement.

He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Fordham University, a Master of Business Administration in International Finance from American University, and did post-graduate work in international relations at Catholic and Howard Universities.  He is a Fellow of the Inter-University Seminar on Armed Forces and Society, a Distinguished Visiting Lecturer of the Foreign Service Institute, and a life member of the Foreign Area Officers Association and the African Studies Association.

Contact: info@iwp.edu

Courses

• IWP 639: U.S.-African Relations