Michael Knutson - Institute for Security Governance

Faculty

Mr. Michael Knutson is the Regional Program Lead (RPL) for the Western Hemisphere for the Advising & Consulting (A&C) Division at the Institute for Security Governance (ISG). In this role, Mr. Knutson oversees ISG activities in all areas of institutional capacity building (ICB) in the Western Hemisphere. Mr. Knutson regularly leads teams of subject matter experts to conduct ICB projects throughout the Western Hemisphere and participates in professional development courses for multinational audiences in Monterey, California.

Prior to his role at ISG, Mr. Knutson served as the Western Hemisphere RPL for the Defense Governance and Management Team (DGMT). In this capacity, he was the lead for DGMT's defense institution building (DIB) project execution in the region and provided advice and expertise to the US Department of Defense (DoD) leadership and stakeholders on DIB and related issues.

Mr. Knutson's previous DoD positions include serving as the Principal Military Advisor to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Western Hemisphere Affairs, and as Senior Defense Official and Defense Attaché to Colombia and Guatemala. Prior to those assignments, Mr. Knutson performed security cooperation and attaché duties in Argentina, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, and Mexico.

Mr. Knutson's BS is from the US Military Academy at West Point, New York and his MA is from Tulane University at New Orleans, Louisiana. Additionally, Mr. Knutson has an MA from the Universidad de Defensa Nacional at Buenos Aires, Argentina. He is fluent in Spanish. Mr. Knutson and his wife, Kristina have two children.