Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism

The Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism (S/CT) is the office within the U.S. Department of State which "coordinates and supports the development and implementation of all U.S. Government policies and programs aimed at countering terrorism overseas." 

Mission
"The primary mission of the Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism (S/CT) is to forge partnerships with non-state actors, multilateral organizations, and foreign governments to advance the counterterrorism objectives and national security of the United States. Working with our U.S. Government counterterrorism team, S/CT takes a leading role in developing coordinated strategies to defeat terrorists abroad and in securing the cooperation of international partners. In all activities, we are guided by the National Security Strategy and the National Strategy for Combating Terrorism." 

Leadership
The following personnel are responsible for leadership at S/CT:
 * Daniel Benjamin, Coordinator (bio)
 * Robert F. Godec, Principal Deputy Coordinator for Counterterrosism (bio)
 * Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, Deputy Coordinator, Programs Directorate (bio)
 * Mark I. Thompson, Deputy Director, Operations Directorate (bio)

George W. Bush Administration leadership
 * Coordinator, Dell Dailey (2007-2009)
 * Frank C. Urbancic, Jr., Principal Deputy Coordinator (bio)
 * Susan F. Burk, Deputy Coordinator for Homeland Security (bio)
 * Gerald Michael Feierstein, Deputy Coordinator for Programs, Plans, Press and Public Diplomacy (bio)
 * Thomas M. Hastings, Deputy Coordinator for Operations (bio)
 * Virginia Palmer, Deputy Coordinator for Regional and Trans-Regional Affairs (bio)

Programs
The following are programs of S/CT:


 * Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program (ATA)
 * Counterterrorism Finance Unit
 * Country Reports on Terrorism (read reports here)
 * Foreign Emergency Support Team (FEST)
 * Technical Programs Unit
 * Terrorist Interdiction Program (TIP)
 * Top Officials (TOPOFF)

Reports
The Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism annually issues a "full and complete report on terrorism" to Congress, in accordance with Title 22 of the United States Code, Section 2656f(a). Since 2004, this report has been called Country Reports on Terrorism, which replaced the previously published Patterns of Global Terrorism reports.

Country Reports / Patterns of Global Terrorism reports from 2000 until the present can be accessed at the Department of State website.

Reports from 1995 through 1999 are digitally archived by the Department of State here.

Digital reports for 1976 to present can be accessed here, via the MIPT Terrorism Information Center.

Background
"The predecessor organization to S/CT was the Office for Combatting Terrorism, created in 1972 upon the recommendation of a special committee appointed by President Richard Nixon following the Munich Olympics terrorist attack. The committee determined that an office was needed within the Department of State to provide day-to-day counterterrorism coordination and to develop policy initiatives and responses for the U.S. Government. The Office for Combatting Terrorism became the Office of the Ambassador-at-Large for Counterterrorism in 1985, and the Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism in 1989." 

Contact Information
Web: http://www.state.gov/s/ct/

Related SourceWatch Resources

 * Counter Terrorism Evaluation Group
 * Homeland Security drills and exercises
 * J. Cofer Black, former Coordinator for Counterterrorism
 * Middle East Partnership Initiative
 * National Office for Combatting Terrorism
 * Patriot Act
 * U.S. Department of Homeland Security
 * U.S. Special Operations Command
 * war on terrorism
 * watchlist