The ISG Schoolhouse is in full swing! Among the many courses conducted this cycle was the International Defense Acquisition Negotiations course – the final in a series of three focused on Defense Acquisition and Resource Management.

The negotiation course focuses on planning for and negotiating complex issues related to international defense contracts. Particular emphasis is placed on the strategies, techniques, and characteristics of good negotiators. Participants examine the protocols, processes, and challenges inherent in the contract negotiation process.

Women are playing an increasingly influential role in U.S. defense and national security. Evidence of this can be found right here at the Defense Security Cooperation University’s Institute for Security Governance (ISG). Two notable examples include Ms. Karen Bonaby and Ms. Kelly Peters – highly effective and experienced Resident Advisors, who recently shared some of their insights and experiences that highlight the value of including women in defense advising. In 2020, Ms. Karen Bonaby was the first Resident Advisor to be detailed to the Republic of Moldova. In 2021, Ms. Peters was detailed to Latvia as a Resident Advisor, having served before that as a Resident Advisor in Afghanistan. Each of these women brought impressive credentials and plethora of relevant experience to their Resident Advisor roles.

A Defense Institute of International Legal Studies (DIILS) team recently traveled to Slovenia to conduct a seminar on Human Rights and the Law of Armed Conflict with members of the Slovenian Army.

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 reflects on the January ISG On-Site
• Welcomes new Logistics Capability Building Functional Lead, David Shealy
• Reports on Maritime Readiness in the Dominican Republic
• Offers a standing ovation to Executive Administrative Specialist, Lisa Ruffoni
• Highlights the most recent iteration of the “Fundamentals of Maritime Security” course
• Spotlights a Philippine Alumnus of ISG Resident Education
• Takes a look at the past 10 years of Peacekeeping & Exercises in Japan
• Promotes the 2023-2024 Course Catalog
• Provides exciting updates from ISG HQ

ISG recently delivered a United Nations Staff Officers Course (UNSOC) at the Peace Support Operations Training Institute (IPSOTSL) in Kukeleganga, Sri Lanka. This training event was sponsored by the United States Indo-Pacific Command and U.S. State Department’s Global Peace Operations Initiative program in support of United Nations Peacekeeping operations worldwide.

The course consisted of 38 Field Grade Officers from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Mongolia and Nepal and prepared the participants to serve as Staff Officers in UN Force and Sector headquarters Staffs. The event wrapped up with a three day exercise which enabled participants to demonstrate their new skills in an intensive simulated UN mission environment.

DIILS joined U.S. Naval Forces Africa to partner with African maritime colleagues from several different countries and participate in Exercise Cutlass Express in Mombasa, Kenya.