The United States has appointed its civilian head of operations for the implementation of President Donald Trump’s peace plan.
U.S. Ambassador to Yemen Steven Fagin will take the position at the Civil-Military Coordination Center, established earlier this month as the headquarters of reconstruction efforts.
“Fagin will serve as the civilian lead of the Civil-Military Coordination Center, which is supporting the implementation of the President’s 20 Point Peace Plan for Gaza,” the State Department announced.
Fagin is a career diplomat who has served as ambassador to Yemen since 2022 and has an extensive portfolio with experience in the Middle East.
Since May 2025, he has been serving as the Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Mission to Iraq in addition to his role as ambassador to Yemen.
The Coordination Center is the “main coordination hub for Gaza assistance” and aims to “synchronize activities to support post-conflict stabilization” with the goal of long-term sustainability and peace.
It was formally established in southern Israel on Oct. 17 under the supervision of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). The center is currently working to coordinate personnel and resource logistics before the bulk of reconstruction work in Gaza, just a short drive away.
“Bringing together stakeholders who share the goal of successful stabilization in Gaza is essential for a peaceful transition,” said CENTCOM chief Adm. Brad Cooper.
He added, “Over the next two weeks, U.S. personnel will integrate representatives from partner nations, non-governmental organizations, international institutions, and the private sector as they arrive to the coordination center.”
Lieutenant General Patrick Frank, commander of US Army Central, was selected to head the military arm of the Coordination Center.
He is supported by approximately 200 U.S. service members “with expertise in transportation, planning, security, logistics, and engineering.”
The U.S. government maintains that the military will not actively deploy troops to the region and remain in a solely supervisory role.
Multiple U.S. officials have visited the Coordination Center in recent days in order to reaffirm cooperation with the governments of Israel and its Arab neighbors.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance gave a press conference at the building during his multiday trip to Israel this week, during which he also spoke with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
Witkoff and Kushner have been mainstay diplomats for the U.S. in Israel since the adoption of the 20-point peace plan.
Rubio also visited the Coordination Center during his trip, arriving just at the vice-president left.
