About Sections & Agencies

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the Central Asia Region (CDC/CAR)

Director: George Schmid
http://www.cdc.gov

CDC Mission

Collaborating to create the expertise, information, and tools that people and communities need to protect their health – through health promotion; prevention of disease, injury and disability; and, preparedness for new health threats.

CDC seeks to accomplish its mission by working with partners throughout the nation and the world to:

• monitor health,
• detect and investigate health problems,
• conduct research to enhance prevention,
• develop and advocate sound public health policies,
• implement prevention strategies,
• promote healthy behaviors,
• foster safe and healthful environments,
• provide leadership and training.

Those functions are the backbone of CDC′s mission. Each of CDC′s component organizations undertakes these activities in conducting its specific programs. The steps needed to accomplish this mission are also based on scientific excellence, requiring well-trained public health practitioners and leaders dedicated to high standards of quality and ethical practice.

CDC Highlights

CDC works with the Ministries of Health of the Central Asian Republics, international partners and donor organizations, and multi-lateral partners, to build public health capacity in Central Asia to ensure a sustainable positive impact on the overall health status of the Central Asian population.

Currently CDC is implementing six programs in Central Asia:

1. Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP)
2. Cooperative Biological Engagement Program (CBEP)
3. Avian Influenza (AI)
4. International Emergency Preparedness Program (formerly, All Hazards Public Health)
5. International Emerging Infections Program (IEIP)
6. Global Aids Program (GAP)

The first five programs are coordinated by Dr.George Schmid (gschmid@kz.cdc.gov) while the last program is coordinated by Dr. Benjamin Mills (bmills@kz.cdc.gov). 

CDC office locations:  
 
U.S. Consulate General – Almaty, Kazakhstan
Park Palace Building
41 Kazybek bi street
Almaty, Kazakhstan 050010
Tel: +7 (727) 250 76 12/17
Fax: +7 (727) 250 17 77

U.S. Embassy – Tashkent, Uzbekistan
3 Moyqorghon Street, 5th Block, Yunusabad district
Tashkent, Uzbekistan 100093
TEL: (998-71) 120-7905/ 140-2494
FAX: (998-71) 120-7904

Consular Section
Consul (Almaty): Ian Turner
 
The Consular Section provides American citizen services for Americans living in Kazakhstan.  Those services include passport renewals and the issuance of consular reports of birth abroad, among other services.  The section also issues non-immigrant visas to travelers to the United States.  The Embassy Branch Office in Almaty issues immigrant visas as well.  For more information on our consular services, please visit the consular pages on our web site or click here.

Defense Attache
Defense Attache: Robert Timm 

The  Defense Attache’s Office works with its colleagues in the Kazakhstani Ministry of Defense to build closer cooperation on issues of regional security and defense modernization and training.

Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA)
Director of the Defense Threat Reduction Office: Craig Bell

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency works with Kazakhstani colleagues to eliminate threats emanating from weapons of mass destruction.  DTRA is responsible for implementation of the Cooperative Threat Reduction (Nunn-Lugar) program in Kazakhstan, and for oversight of arms control agreements and treaties such as Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), Treaty for Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE), and the Vienna Document of 1999 (VDOC-99).  More information about DTRA’s mission can be found at www.dtra.mil.

 
Department of Energy
Director of the Department of Energy Office: Kristin Hirsch

The Department of Energy is responsible for implementing the joint U.S. –Kazakhstan Energy Partnership.  The Department of Energy-Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources partnership oversees ongoing projects that meet a series of strategic goals – important to the Presidents of our two countries – in the areas of Nuclear Energy and Security, Oil and Gas, Electricity, and Renewable Energy Sources.

In addition to the Partnership, the Department of Energy is responsible for implementing portions of the Nunn-Lugar nonproliferation program (also known as the Cooperative Threat Reduction program) in Kazakhstan, most notably the decommissioning of the Soviet-era BN-350 fast-breeder reactor in Aktau and the return of 75 kgs of highly enriched uranium from the research reactor at the Institute of Nuclear Physics in Almaty to Russia.  In partnership with the Customs Committee of Kazakhstan, the Department of Energy is also responsible for implementing the Second Line of Defense program, which equips the Kazakhstani border posts with equipment to detect the illicit trafficking  of nuclear and radiological materials.
 
 
Export Control and related Border Security Assistance (EXBS)
EXBS Advisor: Kirk Bradham
 
The Export Control and Related Border Security Assistance program works with colleagues in the Kazakhstani Border Guards and Customs Services to help them improve their export control systems.  The EXBS program provides training and equipment to help Kazakhstan improve their ability to prevent and interdict shipments of dangerous items and technologies.  For more information on the EXBS program please visit www.exportcontrol.org

Legal Attache
Legal Attache: Kenneth Jones
 
The Legal Attache’s Office, which is responsible for all of the Central Asian countries,  works with colleagues in the law enforcement community on criminal investigation issues.

Management Section 
Management Officer: Patricia Miller
 
The Management Section handles all financial, human resource, contractual, technological, transportation, and construction aspects of Embassy business.  Please click here to learn about U.S. Embassy job opportunities.

Office of Military Cooperation
Chief,  Office of Military Cooperation: Justin Colbert 
 
The Office of Military Cooperation works with the Kazakhstani Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Emergency Situations and Border Guard Service to coordinate and implement Defense Department security cooperation programs to reinforce interoperability for multinational peacekeeping operations and to increase effectiveness of regional counternarcotics and counterterrorism efforts.  For more information on United States Central Command and its programs, see website at http://www.centcom.mil/.

Political/Economic Section
Political/Economic Section Chief: Michael Dixon

The Political and Economic Section of the U.S. Embassy interacts closely with the governmental, financial, business, and non-governmental sectors of Kazakhstani society to communicate American policy to Kazakhstani leaders and to report accurately the views of all segments of Kazakhstani society to American policy makers.

Public Affairs Section
Public Affairs Officer: Catherine Jarvis
Public Affairs Officer (Almaty): Tristram Perry
Regional English Language Officer: Jennifer Uhler
Information Officer: Jon Larsen
 
The Public Affairs Section works to build mutual understanding between the peoples of Kazakhstan and the United States.  We do that through cultural programs, educational and professional exchanges, media outreach, English-language training, and many other avenues.  Please take a look at the many exchange programs we offer if you are interested in studying or training in the United States.  If you are interested in learning about the United States, please contact our Information Resource Centers in Astana and Almaty, or visit an American Corner near you. 
For other inquiries, contact us at astanainfo at state.gov

Drug Enforcement Administration
Assistant Regional Director: Don Barnes

Tel: +7 (727) 250-7612 (general number) 

Regional Security Office
Regional Security Officer:  David Hodson 
 
The Regional Security Office protects the security of the Embassy and official Americans abroad.

United States Agency for International Development
USAID Regional Mission Director for Central Asia: Clay Epperson
USAID Public Affairs: Michelle Blau
USAID Program Liaison Manager:  Nils Bergeson


41 Kazibek bi Street,
Almaty, Kazakhstan 050010
Tel: +7 (727) 250-7612 (general number) 

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), located in Almaty and spearheading development efforts throughout Central Asia, delivers foreign development assistance on behalf of the American people in over 100 countries around the world. USAID began providing assistance to Kazakhstan in 1992. Since that time, the American people through USAID have provided over $0.5 billion in programs that assist the development of the economic sector, healthcare system, and democratic institutions in the country.
USAID operates under a bilateral agreement with the country’s government and cooperates with governmental and non-government organizations and institutions, businesses, and communities. USAID helps strengthen Kazakhstan’s energy markets, regional trade, and businesses environment, as well as supports the implementation of economic reforms. Assistance in healthcare sector focuses on improving primary healthcare, maternal and child health, and response to the threats of diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. Local organizations and institutions receive assistance to enhance governance, access to information, and citizens’ participation.
For more information on USAID, please visit USAID website.

United States Commercial Service
Senior Commercial Officer: Justin Kimmons-Gilbert  
Tel: +7 (727) 250-4850, +7 (727) 250-4950

The U.S. Commercial Service, an overseas branch of the U.S. Department of Commerce, offers valuable assistance to help U.S. businesses export goods and services to markets worldwide.  The USCS office in Almaty assists U.S. companies with successful market entry through counseling, market research, partner searches, trade events and business facilitation services.  For more information on the U.S. Commercial Service, please visit export.gov website or trade.gov website.