Culmen International Successfully Concludes Seven-Year Flagship Aviation Security Program in Libya

Alexandria, VA – April 21, 2026 – Culmen International is proud to announce the successful completion of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Counterterrorism (DOS/CT) Flagship Aviation Security Program in Libya. The sustained seven-year partnership, initiated in 2018 and spanning three U.S. Administrations, accomplished transformative results in reforming Libya’s aviation security landscape. The program re-established international confidence in the country’s civil aviation sector and made travel safer for Americans and the world.

“Culmen is honored to have partnered with the U.S. Department of State and the Libyan Government on this landmark initiative,” said Daniel Berkon, CEO of Culmen International. “This program represents the best of what collaborative international security reform can achieve—building local capacity, restoring critical infrastructure, enabling long-term stability, and making the world safer. We are proud that Culmen’s work has helped Libya expand its inbound and outbound air travel safely and sustainably, so that international cooperation can thrive.”

The program officially closed late September with the final Steering Committee meeting, bringing together Culmen staff, representatives from the U.S. Embassy’s Libya External Office, and officials from eight Libyan government departments and agencies.

"Reopening Libya’s skies safely was a national priority,” said Khaled Sawese, Libya’s Deputy Minister of Transportation, Chairman of the Steering Committee. This program has been the key to rebuilding Libya’s aviation security system to meet international standards. Our aviation authorities now have the trained personnel, systems, and upgraded infrastructure needed to manage security independently and responsibly, restoring confidence with international airlines and passengers."

Since its inception, the program has delivered significant and measurable outcomes, including:

• Training over 3,000 Libyan aviation security personnel, including national and master trainers.

• Establishing a National Aviation Security Training Center, as well as regional and agency-led training facilities.

• Delivering and maintaining advanced screening equipment across airports nationwide, including X-ray systems, walk-through metal detectors, and Explosive Trace Detection (ETD) units.

• Implementing Audit360, an online compliance and oversight platform to enhance national quality control over airport security, and training national auditors in its use.

• Authoring multiple National Aviation Security Programs, with associated Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), specialized job aids, and guidance material.

• Fostering interagency coordination and information sharing

These achievements have directly supported Libya’s efforts to rebuild and modernize its aviation sector. Libya has successfully increased the number of operational airports from three (3) in 2018 to nine (9) in 2025, through improved compliance, infrastructure, and training. Additionally, ten (10) flagship international airlines have resumed or initiated operations to Libya for the first time since 2014, restoring connectivity to more than 17 international destinations across multiple Libyan airports.

Initiated during the first Trump Administration and carried forward under successive administrations, the program reflects enduring U.S. foreign policy priorities to make America stronger, safer, and more prosperous. By closing aviation security gaps in a high-risk operating environment, the program strengthened safeguards for international travel, reduced opportunities for terrorist activity and illicit trafficking activity linked to terrorism financing, and reinforced regional stability—directly protecting U.S. citizens, interests, and critical infrastructure abroad. The program also advanced U.S. interests by building sustainable partner capacity, reducing long-term security risks and future resource demands associated with instability in fragile regions, lowering downstream economic costs and supporting secure international travel and trade.

Culmen’s leadership in implementing complex aviation and security capacity-building programs reinforces its role as a trusted U.S. Government partner in high-impact national security, international development and counterterrorism initiatives. By building sustainable partner capacity in strategically important regions such as Libya, Culmen contributes to the strengthening of US-Libya technical cooperation on counterterrorism and strengthens US-Libya trade relationships. Culmen remains committed to supporting Libya’s continued progress across the country toward a safe, secure, and globally connected aviation sector.

About Culmen International 

Established in 2004, Culmen International, LLC is a privately held U.S. company with more than twenty years’ experience providing exceptional support to the United States Government (USG) and foreign partners. Headquartered in Alexandria, VA, with personnel permanently based in over 40 countries, Culmen enhances American and global safety and security, strengthens homeland defense, advances humanitarian missions, and optimizes government operations—helping customers accomplish critical missions in challenging environments. Learn more at www.culmen.com. 

Media contact: Press@culmen.com