Foreign Area Officers (FAOs)
Program Information
The Master of Arts in Global Affairs offers a rigorous curriculum of 30 multidisciplinary credits. Students complete a core curriculum focusing on the political, social, economic, and cultural complexities of global interactions and select a specialization to fit their interests and professional goals.
In their specialization, FAOs complete coursework focusing on their regional concentration of Eurasia, Indo-Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Western Hemisphere while also taking advantage of Mason’s wide variety of offerings in government, public policy, biodefense, conflict resolution, economics, sociology, anthropology, religious studies, history, geography, and more.
For more information, see the Global Affairs Program flyer for FAOs.
For a preliminary study and tuition plan based on region of interest, contact globalma@gmu.edu.
Highlights of the program for Foreign Area Officers
- 30 credits and no thesis requirement.
- All core courses offered in the evenings at 4:30pm and 7:20pm with some hybrid or online options.
- Coursework in the regions of Eurasia, Indo-Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Western Hemisphere.
- Students pursue their regional concentration throughout the core curriculum, culminating in a capstone project.
- Low tuition (active duty qualify for in-state tuition rates, contact domicile@gmu.edu).
- Start program in Fall (August to December) or Spring semester (January to May).
- Complete the program in 12 months (3 semesters, including summer semester).
- Quick decision possible on application (if required, contact globalma@gmu.edu).
- Defer admission with no additional fees.
- Alternative options available for the program’s foreign language proficiency and seminar abroad requirements.
Foreign Language Proficiency Information
Mason offers language learning courses in Arabic, French, Chinese, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish. Alongside the MA, students can enroll in an additional language course to learn any of these languages. Students can test their proficiency by taking a test, see Mason's Foreign Language Placement.
If proficient in Spanish, French, or Chinese, students have the option to take a graduate-level course (starting at the 500-level) in that language and have it count toward specialization credits. Note that a graduate-level language course does not focus on learning the language but explores various topics with the course being held in that given language.
Harrison Barber
A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Harrison Barber is a U.S. Army Captain and Sub-Saharan Africa Foreign Affairs Officer. He received his MA in Global Affairs with a specialization in Global Conflict & Security. During his time at Mason, Harrison enjoyed the challenges and insights gained from his coursework, specifically humanitarianism and human rights. He would like to express his sincere gratitude to the entire GLOA program. After graduation, Harrison underwent additional training before assuming a new role at the U.S. Embassy in Dakar, Senegal.
Sebastian Bonilla
Sebastian Bonilla is a Foreign Affairs Officer focusing on the Sub-Saharan African region. At Mason, he specialized in Global Conflict & Security. The capstone project for his degree detailed the effects of globalization through a comparative analysis of Mozambique, Lesotho, and South Africa. Additionally, he participated in GLOA 710: Seminar Abroad in Argentina with FLACSO as part of his program requirements. As a Hispanic officer in the Armed Forces, he seeks to utilize the skills and knowledge gained from GMU to support U.S. national interests and enhance military and multi-national partnerships.
Andrew Campbell
Andrew Campbell gradauted from George Mason University’s Global Affairs MA program with a specialization in Global Economics and Development with a focus on Southeast Asia. He is a USAF FAO Fellow and will be continuing on to help the US build and maintain relationships with its allies and partner nations. He looks forward to applying the knowledge and skills he has learned through the Global Affairs program to foster positive relations abroad.
Henry Hama
Henry Hama is a U.S. Army Sub Saharan Africa foreign area officer currently assigned to U.S. Embassy Djibouti as Chief, Office of Security Cooperation (OSC Chief). He graduated from GMU with an MA in Global Affairs (Conflict & Security). As an OSC Chief, his responsibilities include executing US defense policy objectives through planning, coordinating and managing security cooperation for the Republic of Djibouti; advising the US Ambassador, US Africa Commander and the Senior Defense Official on security cooperation and military engagements in Djibouti. He also implemented all Title 22, Department of State Security Assistance programs that support Defense Institution Building, peacekeeping deployments, and the professionalization and development of the Djiboutian military. Additionally, he develops and executes all Title 10, Department of Defense Security Cooperation activities including over $40 million in counterterrorism programs. He interacts daily with interagency partners and senior Djiboutian military officers to advance USG policy priorities. He supervises and works with one US Airforce Non-Commissioned Officer and three locally employed staff members in a joint, interagency office.
Nicholas Kestler
Nicholas (Nick) Kestler graduated from the Global Affairs MA program with a specialization in Global Security & Conflict. Nick is a Major in the United States Army and serves as a Foreign Area Officer working in Sub-Saharan Africa. His favorite courses at George Mason were Dr. Son’s Economic Globalization and Development and Dr. Martin’s Civil Wars and Stabilization in Africa. Nick’s most memorable experience was GLOA 710: Seminar Abroad in Argentina while walking the streets of Buenos Aires, eating chorizos, and attempting to speak Spanish. After graduation he is moving to Vicenza, Italy with his wife and daughter to start his next job with the US Army. He would like to thank the Global Affairs, Schar School, and the Carter School professors for their stimulating instruction and support during his time at GMU.
Stephen Labit
Stephen Labit is a United States Air Force officer (Maj), aviator, and Foreign Area Officer. He graduated from George Mason University's Global Affairs MA program with a specialization in Global Conflict & Security. Stephen's major topics of interests include the impacts of misinformation, disinformation and fake news on state fragility, conflict, and violence, as well as regional issues and conflicts within Southeast Asia. His favorite class was Conflict Analysis and Resolution as he had the opportunity to interview prominent researchers and experts examining misinformation's role in state conflict. Stephen's next assignment will be in Hawaii to be part of the US Indo-Pacific Command's Strategic Planning and Policy Directorate.
Jordan Romberg
Jordan Romberg is a US Air Force officer, pilot, and Foreign Area Officer with 16 years of military service. He graduated from George Mason University’s Global Affairs MA program with a specialization in Global Health with a focus on Southeast Asia. Jordan will continue his military service as an Air Attaché at the US Embassy in Manila, Philippines. In this role, he will seek to build effective relationships with global partners in support of US Air Force and US Space Force global operations. Jordan would like to thank Dr. Jennifer Ashley, Dr. Niklas Hultin, and Dr. Byunghwan Son for their thought-provoking instruction and guidance throughout the program. He would also like to thank his family for the love, support, and encouragement they provided during such a demanding year.