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News | May 13, 2019

CENTCOM’s Inaugural Conference Successfully Builds Middle East Intelligence Relationships, Promoting Intelligence Professionalization and Interoperability

USCENTCOM

Tampa, Fla. – United States Central Command recently hosted a Middle East Directors of Military Intelligence Conference that brought together senior leaders from more than a dozen nations to forge alliances and develop and sustain partnerships.

Tampa, Fla. – Grand Mufti of the Jordanian Armed Forces, MG Dr. Majid Darawsheh, addresses attendees at the U.S. Central Command hosted Middle East Directors of Military Intelligence Conference, April 2, 2019. The inaugural conference brought together Directors of Military Intelligence from the Middle East and North Africa and subject matter experts from America’s intelligence and academic community to discuss professionalization and interoperability of military intelligence, and lay the ground work for increased regional intelligence cooperation. (Photo by Ruben Rosario)
Tampa, Fla. – Grand Mufti of the Jordanian Armed Forces, MG Dr. Majid Darawsheh, addresses attendees at the U.S. Central Command hosted Middle East Directors of Military Intelligence Conference, April 2, 2019. The inaugural conference brought together Directors of Military Intelligence from the Middle East and North Africa and subject matter experts from America’s intelligence and academic community to discuss professionalization and interoperability of military intelligence, and lay the ground work for increased regional intelligence cooperation. (Photo by Ruben Rosario)
Tampa, Fla. – Grand Mufti of the Jordanian Armed Forces, MG Dr. Majid Darawsheh, addresses attendees at the U.S. Central Command hosted Middle East Directors of Military Intelligence Conference, April 2, 2019. The inaugural conference brought together Directors of Military Intelligence from the Middle East and North Africa and subject matter experts from America’s intelligence and academic community to discuss professionalization and interoperability of military intelligence, and lay the ground work for increased regional intelligence cooperation. (Photo by Ruben Rosario)
CENTCOM’s Inaugural Conference Successfully Builds Middle East Intelligence Relationships, Promoting Intelligence Professionalization and Interoperability
Tampa, Fla. – Grand Mufti of the Jordanian Armed Forces, MG Dr. Majid Darawsheh, addresses attendees at the U.S. Central Command hosted Middle East Directors of Military Intelligence Conference, April 2, 2019. The inaugural conference brought together Directors of Military Intelligence from the Middle East and North Africa and subject matter experts from America’s intelligence and academic community to discuss professionalization and interoperability of military intelligence, and lay the ground work for increased regional intelligence cooperation. (Photo by Ruben Rosario)
Photo By: Ruben Rosario
VIRIN: 190513-M-LM779-001

The conference, held Mar. 31-Apr. 3, “demonstrated USCENTCOM’s commitment to our partners in the Middle East, focusing on strengthening our mutual goals and interests in a constructive manner rather than merely reacting to regional conflicts," said CENTCOM’s International Programs Branch Chief, U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Jane Stokes.

Participants addressed challenges with media communications, ethics, and professional development, she said. Additionally, discussions covered partnership development, analytical biases and how to overcome intelligence challenges and factors that lead to regional destabilization.

More than 150 representatives from 11 Middle East partner nations, three North Africa countries and the United States attended the inaugural event.

"We all face a similar challenge, to find a way to strengthen our strategic partnerships,” said Anthony Cordesman, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic & International Studies. “When people set broad, general goals that are supposed to apply to everyone—that does more harm than good. Alliances are forged out of practical, working relationships.”