Center for International Stabilization and Recovery
A James Madison University center supporting humanitarian mine action, explosive-remnants-of-war recovery, and post-conflict stabilization.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The Center for International Stabilization and Recovery (CISR) is a public-policy and professional training center at James Madison University in the United States. Its work focuses on humanitarian mine clearance, assistance for people affected by landmines and other explosive remnants of war, mine-risk education, post-conflict recovery, and the development of institutions and leaders working in mine action. The center began in 1996 as the Mine Action Information Center, established under a United States Department of Defense policy directive to function as an information clearinghouse for humanitarian demining. It was designated a Department of Defense Center of Excellence in 1997 and subsequently developed broader relationships with United States government agencies and international organizations. Support from the U.S. Department of State's Vietnam Initiative began in 1998, while the Department of State became the center's principal supporting agency by 2001. CISR combines research, information management, education, professional development, conferences, workshops, and field-oriented collaboration. Its staff assembles faculty members, students, practitioners, and other specialists into teams addressing particular post-conflict and explosive-ordnance challenges. Its international network has included partners and supporters associated with the United Nations, Canada, Switzerland, and the Slovenia International Trust Fund. In 2008, the organization adopted its current name and expanded its mandate beyond conventional humanitarian mine action to encompass explosive remnants of war and wider stabilization and recovery issues. A significant part of CISR's knowledge function has been its specialist journal, originally known as the Journal of Mine Action and later the Journal of ERW and Mine Action. The publication served the global mine-action and post-conflict community through field reports, technical and operational articles, reviews, profiles, lessons learned, and information about equipment and methods. It was produced in print and online, with a substantial international readership, and received support through contracts involving the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Political-Military Affairs and the U.S. Department of Defense's Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate. As of 2025, publication had been suspended following a loss of funding, and the center was seeking approximately $300,000 in new support to restart it. CISR also provides leadership and management development. Its Senior Managers' Course in ERW and Mine Action, developed with faculty from James Madison University's College of Business, applies management principles to the operational realities of national mine-action programs and clearance organizations. Between 2004 and 2013, nine campus-based courses reportedly trained 172 participants from 40 countries; regional courses were also held in Jordan, Colombia, Peru, and Tajikistan, including a program in Tajikistan in 2014. The center's information resources have included the Global Mine Action Registry, a directory and contact database for organizations involved in mine action. The center's survivor-focused work includes Pathways to Resilience, a regional leadership and peer-support initiative for survivors of landmine and explosive-ordnance injuries. The program is intended to strengthen participants' confidence, physical and emotional well-being, leadership capacity, and ability to support other survivors in their countries. Its first workshop brought together 29 landmine survivors in Lebanon in May 2011, and CISR has expressed an interest in adapting the model for other conflict-affected regions. The organization marked its twenty-fifth anniversary in 2021. After Dr. Suzanne Fiederlein retired following a long tenure, Dr. Christina A. Kilby became executive director in 2025.
History
CISR originated in 1996 as the Mine Action Information Center, following a directive from the U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. Its initial purpose was to organize and distribute information relevant to humanitarian demining, at a time when governments and international organizations required better coordination of landmine-clearance knowledge, operational practices, and victim-assistance resources. In 1997, the program received a Department of Defense Center of Excellence designation, strengthening its institutional role as a specialist source of expertise. The center's funding and partnerships expanded during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Support from the U.S. Department of State's Vietnam Initiative began in 1998, and by 2001 the Department of State had become the principal supporting agency. CISR developed an international support and collaboration network involving organizations associated with the United Nations, Canada, Switzerland, and the Slovenia International Trust Fund. Its work increasingly combined information services with research, education, conferences, workshops, and practitioner support. The organization broadened its mandate in 2008 and adopted the name Center for International Stabilization and Recovery. The change reflected an expanded focus on explosive remnants of war, rather than landmines alone, as well as on wider post-conflict recovery and stabilization questions. The center continued to operate within James Madison University while drawing on university faculty, students, external experts, and field practitioners for project-based teams. CISR's publication program became an important part of its international identity. The Journal of Mine Action, later titled the Journal of ERW and Mine Action and subsequently referred to as the Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction, provided a recurring forum for operational reports, technical developments, field experience, policy analysis, reviews, profiles, and lessons learned. The journal was issued in print and online and served readers well beyond the United States. Its support included contracts involving the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Political-Military Affairs and the U.S. Department of Defense's Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate. By 2025, however, the journal was suspended after a loss of funding, and the center was seeking new financial support to restore publication. The center also built a professional-development portfolio. In cooperation with James Madison University's College of Business, it developed the Senior Managers' Course in ERW and Mine Action for leaders of national mine-action programs and operating organizations. The course linked management theory with the practical requirements of planning, directing, and evaluating clearance and risk-reduction programs. Nine courses held at James Madison University between 2004 and 2013 reportedly involved 172 participants from 40 countries. CISR later delivered regional training in Jordan, Colombia, Peru, and Tajikistan, including a May 2014 program in Tajikistan. Its information resources included the Global Mine Action Registry, which provided contact and organizational information for hundreds of mine-action bodies. CISR also developed survivor-centered programming. Pathways to Resilience was designed to support survivors of landmine and explosive-ordnance injuries through leadership development, peer support, and attention to physical and emotional well-being. The first workshop took place in Hamama, Lebanon, from May 8 to May 15, 2011, with 29 landmine survivors participating. The center has aimed to adapt the model for other conflict-affected communities. CISR celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary in 2021. Leadership during the 2010s included Kenneth Rutherford, who directed the center from February 2010 through 2019. Suzanne Fiederlein served as interim director from 2020 until 2025 and retired after a reported 26-year association with the center. In 2025, Christina A. Kilby became executive director. The center remains an active James Madison University-based organization focused on humanitarian mine action, explosive-ordnance issues, survivor support, and post-conflict stabilization.
- 2025
Leadership transition and journal suspension
[1]Christina A. Kilby became executive director after Suzanne Fiederlein's retirement; the center's journal was also reported suspended because of funding loss.
- 2021
Twenty-fifth anniversary
[1]CISR marked twenty-five years of humanitarian-development and post-conflict-recovery work.
- 2011
First Pathways to Resilience workshop
[1]The first regional survivor peer-support workshop hosted 29 landmine survivors in Lebanon from May 8 to May 15.
- 2008
Adopts the Center for International Stabilization and Recovery name
[1]The organization changed its name from Mine Action Information Center and expanded its scope to explosive remnants of war and broader recovery issues.
- 2001
Department of State becomes primary supporting agency
[1]The U.S. Department of State became the center's main supporting agency.
- 1998
Receives support from the Department of State's Vietnam Initiative
[1]The center began receiving support connected with the U.S. Department of State's Vietnam Initiative.
- 1997
Designated a Department of Defense Center of Excellence
[1]The program received a Center of Excellence designation from the U.S. Department of Defense.
- 1996
Mine Action Information Center begins
[1]The program was established under a U.S. defense-policy directive as an information clearinghouse for humanitarian demining.
Products and positioning
An academic and internationally oriented center that connects mine-action research, operational knowledge, professional training, survivor support, and post-conflict recovery practice.
Specialist publication
Journal of ERW and Mine Action
A print and online publication for the international mine-action, explosive-remnants-of-war, and post-conflict community. It carried editorials, field reports, technical and operational articles, reviews, profiles, lessons learned, and information about equipment and procedures. The journal was published three times annually when operating and drew contributions from field practitioners and CISR staff. Publication was suspended by 2025 after a loss of funding.
Professional training · 2004
Senior Managers' Course in ERW and Mine Action
A management-development program for leaders of national explosive-remnants-of-war and mine-action programs. Developed with James Madison University's College of Business, it combines general management concepts with the operational demands of clearance, risk reduction, victim assistance, and program administration. Nine campus courses held from 2004 through 2013 reportedly included 172 participants from 40 countries, followed by regional programs in several affected or mine-action partner countries.
Survivor peer support and leadership · 2011
Pathways to Resilience
A regional leadership and training initiative for survivors of landmine and explosive-ordnance injuries. The program is intended to build confidence, physical and emotional resilience, life direction, and the capacity of participants to assist other survivors. Its first workshop was held in Lebanon in 2011, and CISR has sought to extend the model to additional conflict-affected regions.
Information database
Global Mine Action Registry
A resource containing contact and organizational information for hundreds of organizations involved in mine action. The registry supports networking, information discovery, and coordination among government agencies, international bodies, non-governmental organizations, and other sector participants.
Marketing campaigns
- 2011Pathways to Resilience
Lebanon · Conflict-affected regions
CISR launched its survivor-focused peer-support and leadership model with a workshop in Hamama, Lebanon, bringing together 29 landmine survivors for training and mutual support.
Outcome. The program established a model that CISR has aimed to adapt and replicate in other regions affected by conflict and explosive ordnance.
- 2004Senior Managers' Course in ERW and Mine Action
International · United States
CISR and James Madison University's College of Business developed a recurring management-training program for senior leaders in mine action and explosive-remnants-of-war work.
Outcome. Nine courses held on the James Madison University campus through 2013 reportedly trained 172 participants from 40 countries, with later regional courses delivered in Jordan, Colombia, Peru, and Tajikistan.
Brand decisions
2025
Suspend specialist journal publication after funding lossOtherBackground
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction, the successor publication associated with CISR's journal program, lost funding.
Action taken
Publication was suspended while CISR sought approximately $300,000 in new support to resume it.
Aftermath
The suspension reduced the center's regular publishing output and created a fundraising requirement for possible restoration.
Support sought to resume publication. 300000 USD sought (2025)
2008
Expand from mine action to stabilization and recoveryStrategyBackground
The original Mine Action Information Center had developed beyond a narrow information-clearinghouse role and was addressing explosive remnants of war and wider post-conflict issues.
Action taken
The organization adopted the Center for International Stabilization and Recovery name and broadened its stated scope.
Aftermath
The new identity positioned the center around humanitarian mine action, explosive-ordnance issues, survivor assistance, and post-conflict recovery.
Recent events
- 2025
Christina A. Kilby becomes executive director[1]
Leadership change
Dr. Christina A. Kilby became the center's executive director after Suzanne Fiederlein's retirement.
- 2025
Journal of ERW and Mine Action suspended after funding loss[1]
Other
The center's specialist journal was reported suspended because of lost funding, while CISR sought approximately $300,000 in new support for a possible resumption.
- 2021
CISR marks twenty-fifth anniversary[1]
Other
The center commemorated twenty-five years of work in humanitarian mine action, development, and post-conflict recovery.
Sources2 sources
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