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Over the course of two-days, Ukrainian participants from 14 ministries and government agencies engaged in a workshop to advance the government of Ukraine's efforts to create a culture of preparedness, empower communities, and promote resilience against all threats and hazards. 

Developed in support of Ukraine's national resilience agenda, this resilience workshop featured expert exchanges with senior representatives from DSCU’s Institute for Security Governance, U.S. Embassy – Kyiv’s Office of Defense Cooperation, Sweden's Civil Contingency Agency, and Ukraine’s Government Office for Coordination of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration.

An Institute for Security Governance expert participated in the 3rd Annual Space Conference of the Americas. Hosted at U.S. Southern Command, the event brought together Department of Defense space leaders and counterparts from Western Hemisphere nations to strengthen space partnerships to benefit the region. ISG provided a key presentation on Institutional Capacity Building, contributing towards shared objectives in the dynamic space domain.

During a recent engagement, experts from the Institute for Security Governance’s Africa Regional Advising Team worked with the European Union Training Mission - Somalia (EUTM-S) Mission Force Commander and the Head of Advisory Team in Mogadishu to address respective capacity building efforts aimed at enhancing coordination and support of the Somali Ministry of Defense and Somali National Armed Forces. 

The Institute for Security Governance recently concluded an Institutional Capacity Building engagement in Brasilia, Brazil focused on Defense Management and Planning (CGPD) for the Brazilian Armed Forces and the Brazilian Ministry of Defense (MoD). This initiative is rooted in the Escola Superior de Defesa (ESD) 2023 mandate to incorporate CGPD into its curriculum. 

Notably, ISG advising briefs on Joint Capability Planning in NATO included participants from the Center for Political & Strategic Studies of the Navy – the advisory body to the Navy Chief of Staff.

Exciting news! In collaboration with the United States Embassy - Yerevan and the Armenian Ministry of Defense, DSCU’s Institute for Security Governance hosted a defense transformation workshop in Yerevan. This event marks the initiation of a multi-year collaborative effort focused on Armenian defense transformation. Deputy Chief of Mission Chip Laitinen emphasized its importance in reshaping Armenia's military to face modern challenges and fostering interoperability with like-minded partners. We are appreciative of the expertise and collaboration among all the partners and participants, to include the Naval Postgraduate School, the Kansas National Guard, and the 4th Security Forces Assistance Brigade!

We are delighted to announce the inclusion of a book review by ISG Africa Regional Program Lead, Dr. Whitney Grespin, in Fall 2023 issue of the Journal of Advanced Military Studies. In this issue, authors explore the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the global impact of Russia’s aggression in the region, and the future of conflict for NATO nations. Specifically, Dr. Grespin’s review provides a comprehensive analysis of “The Islamic State in Africa: The Emergence, Evolution, and Future of the Next Jihadist Battlefront” by Jason Warner, et al (Oxford University Press, 2022).

Congratulations to the latest cohort of “Fundamentals of Maritime Security” graduates. This 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; maritime domain awareness; and strategies and solutions for governments to effectively prevent, prepare for, and manage the consequences of various maritime threats. 

The Maritime Security (MARSEC) functional area at the Institute for Security Governance tailors each of its courses to the specific conditions and requirements of the selected audience, focusing on strategic and operational levels.

On December 13-14, a delegation comprising DSCA Deputy Director Mr. Michael Miller, DSCA Chief of Staff Mr. Steven Derscheid, DSCU President Dr. Celeste Gventer, and DSCU Vice President Dr. Jason Fritz met with the leaders and staff of DSCA outstations, the Institute for Security Governance, and the Defenses Resource Management Institute on .

During their visit, the DSCA & DSCU delegation had the opportunity to meet Major General Mamat OA Cham, the Chief of Defence Staff of The Gambia Armed Forces, who was at ISG to participate in the two-week Executive Program in Defense Decision-Making resident course.

Welcome the New Year with a new issue Institute’s quarterly newsletter – The ISG Heron – highlighting our work in Security Cooperation and Institutional Capacity Building as well as the people who contribute to this important mission.   

In this issue, ISG:   

• Celebrates ISG’s Fourth Secretary of Defense Maintenance Award win 
• Spotlights the DSCU Presidential Visit to ISG & DRMI 
• Reminisces about ISG’s Successful On-Site in Monterey 
• Welcomes five new, impressive Regional Advising and Functional Leads 
• Delves into how the Royal Jordanian Navy is Securing and Protecting its Maritime Borders 
• Highlights ISG’s Support for 2023 Exercise Keris Aman 

We are proud to announce that DSCU / ISG’s Resident Advising Program (Ministry of Defense Advisors) in Kyiv, Ukraine has been honored with the 2023 Secretary of Defense Maintenance Award for Sustainment Training, Advice, and Assistance of Foreign Military Forces, Ministerial category.

At the Annual Secretary of Defense Maintenance Awards ceremony in San Diego, Mr. Erik Stohlmann, ISG Regional Advising Principal for Europe, represented the Institute’s winners, accepting the award presented by Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment, the Honorable Christopher Lowman.

DSCU’s Institute for Security Governance recently concluded the resident course: EXECUTIVE PROGRAM IN DEFENSE DECISION MAKING in Monterey, California. The goal of this course is to empower senior leaders with key knowledge and skills to be effective decision-makers, become agents of change, and to transform their institutions to address ever-evolving national security challenges.

On December 13-14, a delegation comprising DSCA Deputy Director Mr. Michael Miller, DSCA Chief of Staff Mr. Steven Derscheid, DSCU President Dr. Celeste Gventer, and DSCU Vice President Dr. Jason Fritz met with the leaders and staff of DSCA outstations, the Institute for Security Governance, and the Defense Resources Management Institute on .

During their visit, the DSCA & DSCU delegation engaged in a series of impactful activities. They participated virtually in the DSCA end-of-year Town Hall, which was followed by an in-person Q&A session on issues of import to ISG and DRMI personnel. Additionally, they visited both DRMI’s International Defense Management course and ISG’s Executive Program in Defense Decision-Making course, gaining valuable insights into high-caliber education and professional development missions of both components.