Afghanistan and Beyond – A discussion of the current situation in Afghanistan and the challenges for U.S. foreign policy in 2011-12

Free and open to the public.


About the speaker
Mark R. Jacobson recently left the NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan where served from August 2009-July 2011 as the Deputy NATO Senior Civilian Representative, and ISAF Director of International Affairs. In this capacity, Jacobson represented ISAF as part of the international diplomatic community in Kabul, helped to bring cohesion to a coalition of over 50 nations and international organizations, and served as the principal foreign policy advisor to the Commander, ISAF.

Jacobson began his career as a Presidential Management Fellow (PMF) at the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), where he served in various assignments, including the Joint Staff Operations Directorate, Special Operations Division (J3-SOD). Jacobson also served as the Department advisor for international counter narcotics policy, and as a special assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. He left government service in 2003 for The Ohio State University's Mershon Center, where he served as the Visiting Scholar for International Security and Public Policy. Until his departure in 2005, Jacobson taught courses on U.S. counterterrorism policy. In 2006, Jacobson was mobilized to active military duty and served in Afghanistan as a Navy Human Intelligence (HUMINT) officer. This was his second mobilization, having served in Bosnia, as an Army reservist, in 1996-97. Following his deployment to Afghanistan, Jacobson returned to government service and joined the staff of the Senate Armed Services Committee where he served as part of the Chairman Carl Levin's (D-MI) investigative team.

He is a frequent speaker on national security issues, a life-member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and a Senior Fellow at the Truman National Security Project. Jacobson holds a PhD in Military History and Strategic Studies from The Ohio State University, a Masters in War Studies from King's College, London, and a BA in History from the University of Michigan.

Sponsored by: the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy

• NATO