On 1-2 OCT 2019, the CENTCOM J3 Counternarcotics (CN) division -- in partnership with NESA -- sponsored a seminar and workshop called “Cracking the Code on Assessments, Monitoring & Evaluation (AM&E)” led by Motive International SMEs Ms. Morgan Keay and Dr. Salamah Magnuson. With participants from across CENTCOM, SOCOM, SOCCENT and from OSD/Counternarcotics, the event cultivated participants’ AM&E skills in the Theory of Change and Types & Targets of Change (T2Delta) methods, then facilitated the application of these methods to the CENTCOM CN portfolio. These methods not only enrich program designs with real world context validation but enable staff members to craft airtight Measures of Effectiveness (MoEs) and select appropriate indicators and data sources to evaluate the effectiveness of program results at the input, output, outcome and impact levels. All methods covered ensured compliance with and exceed the standards set by DODI 5132.14 “Assessment, Monitoring & Evaluation Policy for the Security Cooperation Enterprise,” and were nested specifically with relevant strategic guidance documents, namely OSD’s “Framework to Counter Drug Trafficking and Other Illicit Threat Networks,” and the CENTCOM Campaign Plan. The event resulted in specific AM&E plans for the largest programs in the CN portfolio, durable processes to sustain efficient and targeted AM&E going forward, and new capabilities among a cadre of staff to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate command-sponsored activities in the OE. Active participation by, and concurrence from, OSD overseers as well as branch and division leadership will ensure that workshop outcomes will be sustained. This will enable HQ staffs to deliver more timely, relevant and critical information on the progress towards strategic end states to GCC, Pentagon and Congressional decision-makers on an enduring basis.