page_title: Bilateral Affairs Officer
hierarchical_section_title: Bilateral Affairs Officer
caption_attribution_description: English: CPT Aaron Isaacson, U.S. Bilateral Affairs Officer in Armenia, greets Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during a trip to Armenia in June 2012.
context_page_description: A Bilateral Affairs Officer is a United States Army or Air National Guard officer recruited from the state National Guard unit of which he or she is a member. In the National Guard State Partnership Program, each state has a 'partner country' and the Bilateral Affairs Office serves as a conduit between the two. It is considered a diplomatic level assignment.
  The Bilateral Affairs Officer functions as a security co-operation action officer and forward National Guard Liaison Officer, representing the interests of the respective National Guard. The Bilateral Affairs Office works for the COCOM and for the Embassy Office of Defense Coordinator. The COCOM funds this position and the Bilateral Affairs Office will be under the direction of the Office of Defense Coordinator in the partner country.
  Furthermore, the Bilateral Affairs Officer coordinates with the State Partnership Director for State Partnership Program events and National Guard forces to participate in military-to-military events. As a result, the positions of Bilateral Affairs Officer and State Partnership Director are mutually supportive.
context_section_description: A Bilateral Affairs Officer is a United States Army or Air National Guard officer recruited from the state National Guard unit of which he or she is a member. In the National Guard State Partnership Program, each state has a 'partner country' and the Bilateral Affairs Office serves as a conduit between the two. It is considered a diplomatic level assignment.
  The Bilateral Affairs Officer functions as a security co-operation action officer and forward National Guard Liaison Officer, representing the interests of the respective National Guard. The Bilateral Affairs Office (and/or TCA Coordinator) works for the COCOM (Combatant Command) and for the Embassy Office of Defense Coordinator. The COCOM funds this position and the Bilateral Affairs Office will be under the direction of the Office of Defense Coordinator in the partner country.
  Furthermore, the Bilateral Affairs Officer coordinates with the State Partnership Director for State Partnership Program events and National Guard forces to participate in military-to-military events.  As a result, the positions of Bilateral Affairs Officer and State Partnership Director are mutually supportive.
caption: Secretary Clinton shaking hands with the Bilateral Affairs Officer of Armenia during a visit to the US Embassy in Yerevan
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