Rocco Messina

Rocco Messina is a highly accomplished program manager in counter-terrorism and border security. His extensive experience and expertise have enabled him to successfully design and implement comprehensive national border strategies in various countries. As the head of the Border Security and Management Unit at the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT) within the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), he has been instrumental in supporting the inclusion of counter-terrorism elements in the UN Member States' border security strategies through technical assistance and capacity-building activities. During his tenure as Head of the Border Management Section at the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), he developed a comprehensive Haitian national border policy. He successfully created the Haitian Technical Border Commission, the Customs Police, and a specialized branch of the Haitian National Police in charge of securing the land borders. Moreover, his efforts in Afghanistan as Training Program Manager with NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Mission were remarkable as he developed training curriculums for the Afghan Border Police. Throughout his 25-year-long career, Mr. Messina was deployed to several field missions in national and international locations, focusing mainly on counter-terrorism and border security matters. He has been decorated with national and international honorifics for his outstanding leadership and the successful discharge of his duties. Mr. Messina holds a master's degree in literature and a bachelor's degree in international law, and he is fluent in Italian, English, Spanish, and French.