News Archive - Defense Security Cooperation University

DR. WHITNEY GRESPIN PUBLISHED ON PRIVATE SECURITY ASSISTANCE ACTIVITY IN THE HORN OF AFRICA

ISG Africa Regional Program Lead Dr. Whitney Grespin recently contributed a chapter on “Private Security Assistance Activity and Oversight in the Horn of Africa” to the policy brief series published by Addis Ababa University’s Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS). 
In this chapter, Dr. Grespin expands our understanding of the nature and scope of private security activities (and actors) in the region; demonstrates why “strategic monism” must be avoided; and successfully argues why these private security actors do not solve the broader strategic security challenges in the region, and Africa at large. Kudos Dr. Grespin!

Click here to view the publication.

CIVIL-MILITARY COORDINATION IN DISASTER RELIEF

We are proud to announce the successful culmination of the Civil-Military Coordination in Disaster Relief course. This course develops a comprehensive understanding of how national governments organize and use their armed forces to support domestic and international disaster response operations. The course emphasizes cross-community understanding and communication skills that improve the ways that armed forces, government civilian agencies, and non- and inter-governmental organizations can work more effectively alongside one another in disaster relief.

Objectives include:
♦ Deepen their understanding of disaster response communities 
♦ Develop knowledge of national systems for coordinating disaster responses 
♦ Explore the methods used by the international community to support national governments during disaster response 
♦ Exercise their capacity to build trust, identify shared objectives, and promote collaboration 
♦ Explore emerging concepts and initiatives from various communities 
♦ Build cross-community professional networks

LIBERIA'S FIRST FEMALE MINDEF – ISG ALUM

Retired Brigadier General Geraldine Janet George, who was recently appointed as the new Acting Liberian Minister of Defense, is the first woman to serve in this role in the country’s history, making this appointment an historic step forward for the country and the continent.  
 
BG George is also a graduate of several Institute for Security Governance (ISG) Resident & Mobile Education Training courses.

Read more here.

ISG 5TH ANNIVERSARY

5 Years of Impact at ISG!
In five years under the auspices of DSCA, and our nearly 30 years of history as a DoD Security Cooperation implementing component, ISG has grown remarkably into a pivotal force within the Department of Defense, expanding our reach with our foreign partners and continuing to innovate and implement in all aspects of Security Cooperation. 

Going forward, our primary mission remains our focus: to advance U.S. national security interests by strengthening the institutional capacity of partner and allies’ defense and security sectors.

Click here to view the ISG Turns Five Infographic.

GRESPIN: CO-AUTHORS BLOG POST ON MEDIUM.COM ON NONSTATE SECURITY ACTORS

In a compelling exploration published on Medium.com, ISG Africa Regional Program Lead Dr. Whitney Grespin and coauthor Dr. Caroline Batka, a senior military analyst at Comenius University, reflect on why the language around private actors in international security services matters. This analysis, rooted in the authors’ extensive background in security governance, underscores the pivotal role terminology plays in shaping the perception, regulation, and behavior of these actors. 
 
The article makes a compelling case for the necessity of a refined and expanded lexicon to accurately reflect and regulate the activities of these diverse groups. By highlighting the intricacies of terminology in international security, Drs. Grespin and Batka contribute significantly to the ongoing discourse on how we understand and engage with private actors in this critical field. We commend our colleague, Dr. Grespin, for her thought leadership. 

P159202 PRINCIPLES OF DEFENSE PROCUREMENT & CONTRACTING

DSCU’s Institute for Security Governance recently concluded the resident course: PRINCIPLES OF DEFENSE PROCUREMENT & CONTRACTING in Monterey, California. This International Defense Acquisition Resource Management (IDARM) course provides a theoretical and practical examination of fundamental concepts and challenges associated with national and global defense contracting. 

Participants examine methodologies that ensure needs based requirements, work in groups to develop and issue requests for tender, and use reasoned decision-making in supplier selection. Critical post-award contract management considerations are also discussed. U.S. and international best practices are examined, as are challenges associated with institutionalizing efficient and effective procurement systems.

BUILDING INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY IN GEORGIA

The Institute for Security Governance (ISG) recently concluded another successful Institutional Capacity Building (ICB) engagement in Tbilisi, Georgia with its Ministry of Defense (MoD) and Georgian Defense Force (GDF) counterparts. Working alongside its Georgian partners, ISG continued to support the development of a centralized Career Management capability within the GDF; conducted a workshop focused on data analytics and policy decision-making in the MoD; and supported Georgian efforts to effectively message change management and enhance organizational trust. Supporting a more effective and nimbler Georgia will not only directly impact the country’s defense and territorial deterrence capabilities but will also enhance its interoperability as an important U.S. Security Cooperation partner.

ISG HERON APRIL ISSUE

Announcing the latest ISG Heron – a quarterly newsletter 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:    

•  Spotlights a successful senior leader delegation visit to ISG & DRMI.

• Welcomes seven new outstanding Regional Advising and Functional Experts.

• Profiles the expansion of security governance in Sri Lanka. 

• Explores the pivotal role of the U.S.-Philippines Bilateral Strategic Dialog in regional security. 

• Offers a standing ovation to Africa Regional Program Lead, Dr. Whitney Grespin.

• Interviews Director Ian Wexler on his dual engagements in the Philippines.

P179928 NATIONAL RESILIENCE FOR DEFENSE & SECURITY

Congratulations to the latest cohort of participants of the National Resilience for Defense & Security course. This course aims to equip participants with knowledge and skills to develop national resilience frameworks that can improve national and collective security in the face of complex threats and hazards, including large scale disasters, domestic crises, and irregular or hybrid warfare.

The course emphasized planning considerations and capabilities requirements for countering full-spectrum threats and hazards that target the civil population and critical infrastructure and services. It explored government coordination with the civil and private sectors, reflecting the interconnected and interdependent nature of defense and security requirements.

EXERCISE SHANTI PRAYAS IV

ISG’s Peacekeeping and Exercises (PKX) Team recently concluded its support to Exercise Shanti Prayas IV – a Multinational Peacekeeping Exercise co-hosted by the Nepali Army and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command at the Birendra Peace Operations Training Centre (BPOTC) in Panchkhal, Nepal from February 20 – March 4, 2024.

This exercise, hosted rotationally between regional US partners, is the largest annual Peacekeeping exercise in the world annual exercises and designed to support peacekeeping operations. Participants included combined service members from 19 countries as well as a series of high-ranking dignitaries.

THE ART OF ADVISING IN BRAZIL

Institutional Capacity Building (ICB) is an art more than a science. From a definitional standpoint, it encompasses Security Cooperation activities that directly support partner nation efforts to improve security sector governance and core management competencies needed to achieve shared security objectives.

From a practical standpoint, it involves a myriad of soft skills combined with a deep knowledge base to arrive at a strategically driven, problem focused, partner centric plan to build partner capacity responsibly and sustainably. 

Some of those soft skills may include relationship and trust building; agility and adaptive thinking; patience and pacing; active listening; strong verbal communications and an ability to adapt to non-native English communication; awareness of non-verbal and culture-specific cues; and iterative thinking beyond best practices (nimble tailoring).

PANAMA ICB ENGAGEMENT TO DEVELOP ITS FIRST EVER JOINT OPERATING CONCEPT

The Institute for Security Governance – in cooperation with U.S. Embassy Panama – led its fifth strategic planning workshop with Panama’s Ministry of Public Security (MINSEG). A 40-person partner working group comprised of members from each of MINSEG’s four service-like operational organizations (estamentos) briefed the Minister of Public Security and the Directors General of the partner security services on progress in developing the first-ever MINSEG-level Joint Operating Concept. A new Panamanian Joint Operating Concept would provide a common approach to conducting operations across various domains (land, sea, air, etc.) and among different military services.

P170370 PRACTICAL CYBER IMPLEMENTATION

DSCU’s Institute for Security Governance recently concluded the resident course: PRACTICAL CYBER IMPLEMENTATION in Monterey, California. This course explores policies and practices necessary to protect and defend data, networks, systems, and platforms essential for military and security organizations and that underpin economic, social, governmental, and political activity in society. Instructors highlight the importance of civilian control throughout the cyber and MoD staff directorates, effective cybersecurity as a national security imperative, and introduce participants to cyber mission assurance, explore barriers to effective policy and practical implementation, and consider the latest practices and innovations for building cyber resilience.

PRINCIPLES OF DEFENSE ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT

Congratulations to the latest cohort of International Defense Acquisition Resource Management (IDARM) “Principles of Defense Acquisition Management” graduates. This course provides a theoretical and practical examination of the underlying concepts, fundamentals, and philosophies of the international defense acquisition management process.

Participants examined the complete defense acquisition life cycle from planning through equipment disposal. The course addresses management characteristics and competencies, control policies and techniques, systems analysis methods, risk management, and functional area concerns. International best practices are discussed along with implementation-related challenges and lessons learned.

MR. SCOTT LYONS PUBLISHED IN DEFENSE & SECURITY ANALYSIS

In his new book review for Defense & Security Analysis, Scott Woodruff Lyons – ISG Acting Senior Principal for Regional Advising – offers insight into János Besenyő’s Darfur Peacekeepers: The African Union Peacekeeping Mission in Darfur (AMIS) from the Perspective of a Hungarian Military Advisor (L’Harmattan, 2021). Besenyő’s work delves into the intricacies of the African Union Peacekeeping Mission in Darfur, offering a firsthand account from the perspective of a Hungarian logistics officer. Covering a pivotal period in 2006, Besenyő provides a comprehensive examination of the tumultuous AMIS (“Mission”) expansion during this time.

ISG F-16 DOCTRINE WORKSHOP WITH BULGARIAN AIR FORCE

The Institute for Security Governance recently conducted a workshop with colleagues from the Bulgarian Air Force in Sofia, Bulgaria. This collaborative event focused on doctrine development and operational guidance for processes and programs supporting NATO interoperable air operations in preparation for the arrival of new F-16 aircraft. ISG looks forward to continued cooperation in the future with the Bulgarian Air Force counterparts.

ISG SUPPORTS KEY RESILIENCE WORKSHIP WITH UKRAINIAN AND INTERNATIONAL ALLIES

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.

ISG PRESENT ICB AT 3RD ANNUAL SPACE CONFERENCE OF THE AMERICAS

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.

GRESPIN SOMALIA ENGAGEMENT

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. 

ICB IN BRAZIL

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.