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INSTITUTE FOR SECURITY GOVERNANCE

Welcome to ISG

The Defense Security Cooperation University’s (DSCU) Institute for Security Governance (ISG) is the Department of Defense’s leading implementer for Institutional Capacity Building (ICB) and one of its primary international schoolhouses. As a component of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), ISG is charged with building partner institutional capacity and capability through tailored advising, education, and professional development programs grounded in American values and approaches.

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LATEST NEWS

SANDRA O’HERN FEATURED ON AIR FORCE JAG PODCAST

Posted: Mar 22, 2023

Congratulations to ISG Europe Regional Program Lead Sandra O’Hern on her participation in an episode on the Air Force Judge Advocate General’s School Podcast. In this episode Lieutenant Colonel O’Hern joins Major Laura Quaco and Dr. Andy Akin for a conversation about Russian history and the relationship between Russia and Ukraine leading up to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Stay tuned for the next episode to hear the remainder of the conversation in which the host and guests discuss operations and international legal principles related to Russia and the conflict.

Listen on Apple Podcasts Here.
Listen on Spotify Here.

picture of men and women standing in front of a blue painted sea wall

Maritime Domain Awareness TTX in Palau

Posted: Mar 14, 2023

The Institute for Security Governance recently facilitated a Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) tabletop exercise in Palau with Palauan Inter-Agency representatives. The engagement, which also included Defense Institute of International Legal Studies, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Pacific Fleet Plans and Policy representatives, focused on a dynamic, scenario-driven event aimed at improving Palauan MDA capabilities and supporting advanced maritime security objectives.

picture of women from various ethnicities standing in unity

International Women’s Day

Posted: Mar 8, 2023

Happy International Women’s Day!

On this International Women’s Day, ISG recognizes, values, and celebrates the achievements and contributions of the women we work with here at ISG HQ, in our nation’s capital, and around the world.

Including women in decision-making processes yields more diverse perspectives on how to address national security challenges, resulting in more effective strategic and operational responses to those challenges.

FEATURED STORY

a picture of a plastic card hanging contains the information of the 11th UN Staff Officers Course

The Fruit of Ten Years of Peacekeeping Capacity Building with Japan

Mar 23, 2023

For the first time in ISG’s engagement history with Japan, this iteration included a two-day train-the-trainer preparation, enabling five Japanese instructors from the JPC to join the ISG trainers in executing the course. Japanese partners taking a direct instructional role is a strong indicator of the efficacy of ISG’s capacity building efforts in Japan. The JPC indicated their intention to build on this success during the next course in July. Participants were encouraged by the Commandant of the Joint Staff College, Vice Admiral FUTAKAWA Tatsuya, during his graduation to “take home and share the knowledge and the skills they have acquired during the course and be a core personnel in the international missions.” Japan is looking for ways to increase its contribution to United Nations Peacekeeping.

A group of 30 course participants, mostly male and in various country uniforms stand on the steps of the hotel at the Naval Postgraduate School.

A New Cohort Learns the Fundamentals of Maritime Security at ISG

Jan 9, 2023

The Institute for Security Governance (ISG) recently conducted a “Fundamentals of Maritime Security” Resident Course at ISG headquarters in Monterey, California. A range of mid- to senior-level military and civilian international participants were represented among the 26 attendees, who hailed from nine different countries, with a strong contingent from Indonesia. The two-week course is structured to provide participants with the strategic context shaping the maritime space in the early 21st century; an overview of various maritime transnational threats; risk and governance self-assessment exercises; an in-depth look at maritime domain awareness requirements and capabilities; and coverage of strategies, solutions, and best practices for governments to effectively prevent, prepare for, and manage the consequences of various maritime threats.

American Flag and Ukrainian Flag on a blue sky with the Institute for Security Governance seal next to the George C. Marshall seal with the text Ukraine Wartime Resilience Assessment Workshop

Assessing Ukrainian National Resilience as a Shared Security Objective

Dec 20, 2022

The Institute for Security Governance and the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies partnered to co-host a workshop on Ukrainian resilience in Krakow, December 12-16. Over 45 participants from Ukraine, NATO Headquarters, the United States and other NATO member states attended the workshop-style meetings to discuss the challenges Ukraine faces—from a national resiliency perspective—following Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of the country.

A picture of participants attending the 'Strategies and Capabilities for Cyber Challenges' Resident Course at ISG headquarters in Monterey, California.

Strategies and Capabilities for Cyber Challenges Course at ISG

Oct 11, 2022

The Institute for Security Governance (ISG) recently conducted a “Strategies and Capabilities for Cyber Challenges” Resident Course at ISG headquarters in Monterey, California. This four-week course – offered annually – equips participants with the knowledge and skills to understand cyber threats and vulnerabilities, and their consequences for national security and military operations. The course explores strategies and capabilities to maintain an advantage over actors who seek to exploit, disrupt, or damage the critical networks, systems, and services upon which our societies and militaries depend.

A picture of ISG and Jordanian Armed Forces standing together in front of the flag

Jordanian Armed Forces Munitions Management Assessment: Improving Safety, Security, and Operational Readiness across the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

Sep 26, 2022

Driven by a national mandate to improve military readiness and to increase its ability to quickly defend the borders of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Institute for Security Governance (ISG) and the Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) Military Ammunition Command recently completed a ten-month Munitions Management Assessment (hereinafter Munitions Assessment) and developed a Munitions Infrastructure Master Plan (IMP) to improve the safety, security, and operational effectiveness of the country’s munitions management processes. This action was in response to a 2021 JAF request for ISG’s evaluation of the JAF’s current munitions material management practices.

A group of participants in formal attire participating the LCB Resident Course at ISG

The Science and Art of Logistics Capacity Building

Sep 14, 2022

The Institute for Security Governance (ISG) recently conducted a two-week Logistics Capacity Building (LCB) Resident Course at ISG headquarters in Monterey, California. The course focused on logistics management concepts to build and strengthen Partner Nation efforts to better assess their logistics requirements and implement lessons-learned within the unique context of their country. Course instruction emphasized the necessity to integrate other institutional capabilities such as strategy, policy, and plans; human resource management; and resource management into logistics requirements. Pedagogically, the course featured diverse learning methodologies including case study presentations, lectures, small group exercises/activities, and structured discussions.

Printable Materials

MATERIALS AT A GLANCE

yellow square with two pages of the primer side by side on an angle

Introduction to ISG Primer

This two-page document provides a brief introduction to ISG as a leader and integrator in global Institutional Capacity Building and includes information about what drives us, how we are organized, our approach to advising and education, and the areas in which we work. For more detailed information, go to the About the Institute and What We Do sections of this site.

Course Catalog

This catalog document provides an overview of ISG's unique course offerings that support our education and training objectives. For an interactive, online version of the course catalog, go to the Schoolhouse Information Hub section of this site.

The 4 page ICB Smart Sheet open on top of a light blue background

ICB Smart Sheets

ISG has developed a series of concise papers, or Smart Sheets, designed to inform USG stakeholders and partner institutions about specific Institutional Capacity Building (ICB) functional or issue areas. Each sheet presents the specific challenge faced, the current state of the field, the role ICB plays in resolving the challenge, and provides ICB best practice recommendations.

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About Institutional Capacity Building

Wondering about the approach of DSCA and its components to institutional capacity building (ICB)? Check out this video, which explains how ICB encompasses Security Cooperation activities and directly supports ally and partner nations; how DSCA manages and executes ICB initiatives; and how building capacity extends beyond the provision of defense articles and services to ensure full-spectrum capabilities. — Watch Video here

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Welcome to ISG

LATEST NEWS

SANDRA O’HERN FEATURED ON AIR FORCE JAG PODCAST

Maritime Domain Awareness TTX in Palau

International Women’s Day

FEATURED STORY

The Fruit of Ten Years of Peacekeeping Capacity Building with Japan

Mar 23, 2023

A New Cohort Learns the Fundamentals of Maritime Security at ISG

Jan 9, 2023

Assessing Ukrainian National Resilience as a Shared Security Objective

Dec 20, 2022

Strategies and Capabilities for Cyber Challenges Course at ISG

Oct 11, 2022

Jordanian Armed Forces Munitions Management Assessment: Improving Safety, Security, and Operational Readiness across the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

Sep 26, 2022

The Science and Art of Logistics Capacity Building

Sep 14, 2022

MATERIALS AT A GLANCE

Introduction to ISG Primer

Course Catalog

ICB Smart Sheets

About Institutional Capacity Building