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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.