News Posts - Defense Security Cooperation University

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 Naval Support Activity Monterey.

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 Naval Support Activity Monterey.

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.

Congratulations to the latest cohort of International Defense Acquisition Resource Management (IDARM) “Principles of Defense Acquisition and Contract Management” graduates. This particular resident course was conducted with Spanish simultaneous interpretation and tailored to focus on specific challenges and opportunities within the Latin American context at DSCU’s Institute for Security Governance in beautiful Monterey, California. 

The forthcoming iteration of the resident course is slated to take place from November 11 to November 22, 2024.

Looking for a good listen? Check the recent episode of the “After the JAG Corps” podcast, featuring ISG’s own Director Ian Wexler.

The interview takes you through Director Wexler’s time serving in the Navy JAG Corps; his last assignment in uniform as Director of the Defense Institute for International Legal Studies in Newport, RI; and his recent civilian transition to  becoming Director of the Institute for Security Governance in Monterey, CA.

The Institute for Security Governance (ISG) Team recently came together for a four-day on-site gathering in Monterey, California, and online. Director Ian Wexler welcomed all in attendance, shared important results from a recent ISG Climate Survey, and how he intends to incorporate the rich feedback into the way forward.

The Defense Security Cooperation University's Institute for Security Governance (ISG) personnel consistently bring to bear their subject matter expertise in both formal ISG mission work as well as external intellectual presentations and publications. Dr. Whitney Grespin, one of our more prolific colleagues, has most recently supported pre-deployment academics on dynamics across the Horn of Africa and east Africa for a variety of Fort Liberty force components. Additionally, she has continued her involvement with the NATO Security Force Assistance Centre of Excellence in Rome through her authorship and contribution of a book chapter on, “Contracted Contributions to the SFA Enterprise.” She has also been invited to return as an instructor on the Institutional Advisor Course.

Recently, at the Pacific Air Chiefs Symposium at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam, Hawaii, ISG Regional Advising Principal for the Indo-Pacific, James Ross, met with the National Air Operations Commander from the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), Lt. Gen. Datuk Mohd Shahada bin Ismail, to informally discuss the collaborative work that’s taken place between ISG and the RMAF and to explore opportunities for future engagements. The continued participation in these discussions builds upon Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III and Malaysian Minister of Defense Mohamad Hasan’s June 2023 pledge to strengthen the long-standing bilateral defense relationship.

Congratulations to the latest cohort of participants of the WOMEN, LEADERSHIP and NATIONAL DEFENSE course. This course supports the U.S. Department of Defense Women, Peace, and Security Strategic Framework Implementation Plan; UN Security Council Resolution 1325 objectives; and Women, Peace, and Security principles. 

It is designed to empower participants with the knowledge and skill sets to be change agents to promote women’s meaningful participation in their national security and defense institutions. The course provides practical, strategic, and political insights into women’s inclusion and promotion within decision- and policy-making processes. The underlying theme is that 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.

We’re proud to announce the successful culmination of the first-ever session of the BUILDING RESILIENCE TO COUNTER HYBRID THREATS course at ISG. The program identified and scrutinized national, regional, and collective security capacities aimed at supporting a comprehensive resilience strategy to counter hybrid threats.

Throughout the course, participants engaged in identifying key government and private sector entities, ministries, and law enforcement partners who performed essential functions related to resilience. They also explored political processes affecting cooperation, examined new policies and cooperation frameworks, and analyzed methodologies crucial for operational and strategic comprehension. This understanding is pivotal in fostering willingness, collaboration, and execution for a viable approach to combat hybrid threats effectively via a comprehensive approach.

The Defense Security Cooperation University’s Institute for Security Governance’s Cyber Team conducted a cyber education event in Nassau, Bahamas for the Royal Bahamas Defense Force. The team of experts led participants through an engaging series of lectures, activities, and a capstone exercise to model the drafting and implementation of cybersecurity policies. Participants have a better understanding of the importance of good cyber governance and will be able to take the principles and concepts covered in the event and apply them to improving cybersecurity in the Royal Bahamas Defense Force.

DSCU’s Institute for Security Governance and the U.S. Defense Reform MoDA for Ukraine recently conducted an engagement with partners from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense in Krakow, Poland. This discussion-based, collaborative event focused on principles of acquisition system reform in support of broader transformation efforts. Acquisition representatives from the United Kingdom, Norway, and Poland also provided expert support to this event. 

It was an honor for ISG to continue its valued partnership and cooperation with Ukrainian counterparts.

DSCU’s Institute for Security Governance recently concluded the resident course: STRATEGIES & CAPABILITIES FOR CYBER CHALLENGES in Monterey, California. This four–week course 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. Instructors highlight the importance of a comprehensive approach that applies whole-of government coordination, regional collaboration, and public-private partnerships to counter cyber-enabled malicious actors across the spectrum of conflict.

ISG’s Maritime Security Functional Lead and several Subject Matter Experts were pleased to support the Naval Forces Europe (NAVEUR)/Naval Postgraduate School's Inaugural Black Sea Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) Symposium at the NATO Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Centre in Souda Bay, Crete. 

Twenty-two mid- to senior-level officers from seven partner nations participated in this important gathering meant to enhance MDA to counter a persistent regional threats.

Read more here.

The ISG Team is comprised of over 110 civilian government faculty and staff, and a robust contract support team. Drawing from their experience at ISG and their backgrounds in military, government, industry, academia, and non-governmental organizations, ISG personnel consistently bring to bear their subject matter expertise in both formal ISG mission work as well as in external intellectual presentations and publications. 

In FY23, ISG experts engaged in +20 speaking and media activities, and published half a dozen articles and thought pieces, in venues aimed at academic, government, military, industry, and general public audiences. 

DSCU’s Institute for Security Governance (ISG) and Defense Resources Management Institute (DRMI) were honored to host Defense Security Cooperation University President Dr. Celeste W. Gventer at Naval Support Activity Monterey this week.

She shared insights on the University's vital initiatives, including the most recent Security Cooperation Conference; Security Cooperation Certification; and the Advising, Training, and Education Mission.

Congratulations to the latest cohort of participants to attend the ISG Resident Course, SECURING THE STATE: BUILDING INSTITUTIONS FOR NATIONAL SECURITY!

This four-week resident course equips participants with the skills needed to utilize capabilities-based assessments to identify capability gaps in security and defense arenas. The course uses a mix of lecture, interactive small-group sessions, simulation exercises, and discussions with subject matter experts to explore how to prepare national security institutions to address national security threats. The course offers approaches to establish healthy civil-military relations and interagency coordination to ensure effective, whole-of-government responses to national security challenges.