Clifford H. Bernath

Clifford H. Bernath, Director, Community Outreach and Public Affairs of Africa Center for Strategic Studies.

"Mr. Bernath began work at the ACSS on April 15, 2004 and assumed his present position in April 2007. He is responsible for programs in support of developing and maintaining long-term communications and relationships with ACSS alumni. He is also responsible for development, implementation and evaluation of strategic communications; media and public relations plans to increase awareness about the Africa Center among stakeholders and other constituents.

"Prior to coming to ACSS, Mr. Bernath served as Director of Conflict Resolution and Prevention for Refugees International. He conducted firsthand research and published articles on improving peacekeeping operations in Africa as a means of preventing and shortening armed conflicts.

"Mr. Bernath served from1993-1998 as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs. He was the senior Public Affairs planner at the Pentagon for media coverage of military exercises and combat operations. He also implemented a highly successful program for providing public affairs training to NATO Partnership for Peace (PfP) militaries in the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Ukraine, Slovenia, Azerbaijan, Sweden and Russia.

"From April 1998 to January 2001, he was the Director of the American Forces Information Service (AFIS). He was responsible for ensuring that members of the Armed Forces, their families, and Department of Defense Civilians had access to news, DoD information and entertainment wherever they were stationed around the world.

"Mr. Bernath is a retired Army officer who served as an Infantry officer in Vietnam. He is a career Senior Executive Service (SES) employee with the Department of Defense. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Missouri, and a Master of Science degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Kansas State University."