News Posts - Defense Security Cooperation University

In this issue of The ISG Heron, the Institute shares the fruits of its first On-Site in Monterey since the start of the Pandemic, reflects on the DSCU President's successful visit, highlights ICB work around the world, gives a Standing Ovation to an outstanding Program Analysis Support Team Lead, spotlights a New Primer focused on ISG’s Work with Women, Peace, and Security , and many more newsworthy developments.

ISG’s work with Partners and Allies is rooted in the imperative to enhance the effectiveness of their defense and security processes to meet shared security objectives. Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) is a policy framework that recognizes women must be critical actors and provide meaningful participation in major national security and defense priorities at home and abroad. Learn more about how ISG is working to integrate WPS into all facets of its work. Click here to view the Women, Peace, and Security Primer.

Over the past three years, ISG has strategically worked to align Institutional Capacity Building development, execution, and education within DSCA and DSCU. Today we celebrate this milestone with this brief snapshot of ISG’s FY21 accomplishments in the pursuit of advancing Security Cooperation. Click here to view the ISG Turns Three Infographic.

Brigadier General Geraldine Janet George – the current Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) – is a female career soldier with extensive military leadership skills. To further hone those skills, she recently completed two Resident Courses at ISG headquarters in Monterey, CA: Executive Program in Defense Decision-making (January 2022) and Women In Strategic Defense & Security Decision-Making  (February 2022).

In this issue of The ISG Heron: Institute Resident Advisors are congratulated for receiving the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, ISG welcomes new, key team members, ICB work around the world is highlighted, a Standing Ovation for an outstanding Advising Principal is given, and many more newsworthy developments.

This past month, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff awarded the Joint Meritorious Unit Award for exceptionally meritorious service to Headquarters, United States Central Command and select subordinate units. We are proud to announce that included among the ranks of those awarded were eight Institute for Security Governance Resident Advisors, who were deployed in region at the time and contributed to the mission. Bravo Zulu!

In 2019, the Institute for Security Governance first deployed Resident Advisors to Romania in support of its efforts to reform its human resource management systems.  Romania seeks to fully retire its communist-legacy practices and implement a modern system consistent with an all-volunteer force that is operationally integrated with its capability development process.

The partnership between the United States and Qatar is rooted in “the common goal of a stable, secure, and prosperous Middle East.” The U.S. has been working with Qatar – as well as with other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council – “to increase cooperation on border security, maritime security, military preparedness, cybersecurity, and counterterrorism.”

In 2020, the Institute for Security Governance (ISG) – U.S. Department of Defense’s lead implementer for Institutional Capacity Building – deployed a Resident Advisor to Estonia to support efforts by its Ministry of Defense (MoD) to improve national Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA). This effort was part of the larger bilateral security objective to ensure Estonia’s borders remain sovereign and secure through the use of intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and data-sharing.

An Institute for Security Governance (ISG) team traveled to Dhaka, Bangladesh in late October to participate in the 10th Annual Disaster Response Exercise and Exchange (DREE) in support of U.S. Army Pacific, U.S. Embassy Dhaka, the Bangladesh Armed Forces Division, and the Bangladeshi Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief.

The Institute for Security Governance (ISG) was awarded the 2021 Secretary of Defense Award for Sustainment Training, Advice, and Assistance of Foreign Military Forces for the third year in a row.

In October, the Department of Defense marks Cybersecurity Awareness Month in which it strives to explore the fundamentals of cybersecurity and educate organizations on how to do their part to #BeCyberSmart. From where does the need for this campaign derive?

Since early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted professional settings around the globe. In the interest of public health, and in compliance with pandemic-related safety measures, many institutions have been limited in their capacity to continue operations. Last year, despite these unprecedented circumstances, the Institute for Security Governance (ISG) successfully explored and implemented virtual learning to continue educational engagements with partners and allies.

The Institute for Security Governance (ISG) conducted a workshop in support of the newly established state partnership between the Montana National Guard (MTNG) and Sri Lanka at the Helena Armed Forces Reserve Center (HAFRC).

During its first in-country engagement since the start of the pandemic, an Institute for Security Governance (ISG) team conducted a week-long engagement from August 9-13 in Pristina, Kosovo. The engagement, led by ISG Europe Regional Program Lead Eric Leyde, was focused on further developing the Kosovar Ministry of Defense and increasing the operational capacities of the Kosovo Security Force. 

In December 2013, the United Nations General Assembly declared 30 July World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. Since then, relevant agencies, states, and civilians have observed this day each year to raise awareness about human trafficking, and to promote and protect the rights of its victims. ISG joins in acknowledging World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. 

In July, the Institute for Security Governance (ISG) hosted its first resident educational event since early 2020. This four-week course entitled “Strategies and Capabilities for Cyber Challenges” is specifically designed for planners and those who advise senior leadership at operational headquarters and commands, and at ministries of defense, foreign affairs, and communications. 

In this issue of The ISG Heron, we cover DSCA Director Heidi Grant's visit to ISG HQ in Monterey, we congratulate colleagues on their awards, and we highlight the integration of the Resident Advisory Program into ISG.

Since the global emergence of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in early 2020, the Institute for Security Governance has had to adapt and even reconceive how it carries out its mission. As pandemic-related restrictions are slowly easing, and both ISG and Partner stakeholders are being vaccinated, ISG in-person events have begun to take place once more. 

MoDA was established in 2009 to advance Institutional Capacity Building (ICB) mission and implementation; promote responsible governance, management, and use of security forces; strengthen relationships and institutions to advance reliable partnerships; and enable Security Cooperation investments with supporting and effective partner institutions.

The Institute for Security Governance (ISG) was honored to host Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) Director Heidi Grant and a delegation from DSCA last week (22-24 June 2021) at ISG headquarters in Monterey, CA. The Director was accompanied by Defense Security Cooperation University (DSCU) Acting President David Sobyra, as well as DSCA Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Director CMSgt Daniel Simpson and DSCA Senior Military Assistant to the Director Col Malcolm Pharr. This trip—Director Grant’s first to ISG’s campus since her appointment in August 2020—was aimed at learning more about the Department of Defense’s premier institutional capacity implementer and key international military education and training schoolhouse.