What We Do
The Institute for Security Governance’s (ISG) core mission is Institutional Capacity Building (ICB) and international education. Our engagement with U.S. and international partners enables and strengthens defense and security institutions, builds critical military capabilities, and supports shared security interests. We achieve our core mission by:
ADVISING ORGANIZATIONS
ISG ICB efforts are driven by broader U.S. policy, aligned with strategic guidance in the National Defense and National Military Strategies, and support mutual U.S.-partner nation objectives congruent with Geographic Combatant Command and U.S. Embassy plans, programs, and activities. ISG’s experienced teams work with partners to cultivate security governance, defense management, operational planning, resource management, defense logistics, cybersecurity, human capital oversight, and professional military education among many other functional areas. Baselined by detailed scoping and tailored project design, ISG integrates innovative assessment, monitoring, and evaluation practices into each capacity building effort, fostering long-term security cooperation relationships that fulfill Congressionally mandated ICB requirements. ISG employs Non-Resident Advisors, who conduct periodic multi-year, in-country and virtual ICB partner engagements as well as Resident Advisors, who provide persistent engagement by deploying in-country for up to two years.
EDUCATING INDIVIDUALS
ISG’s tailored education and professional development courses support the sustainment of a comprehensive knowledge base and strengthen partner capacities to confront complex security and defense challenges. Delivered in the United States, abroad, and sometimes virtually in a short-course format, these offerings bring applied learning practices into bilateral or multilateral classroom environments. Participants are encouraged to engage in open, peer-to-peer learning, and form long-term international and interagency networks.
PROFESSIONALIZING ICB
ISG, working with the various schools and institutions within the Defense Security Cooperation University (DSCU) network, advances the professionalization of ICB practitioners through high quality instruction in ICB application and theory to the Security Cooperation (SC) community and beyond. As the DoD’s primary ICB implementor, ISG is a key resource for ICB-related information including best practices, common challenges, and lessons learned that refine and strengthen our ability to effectively engage with partners toward shared security goals.
ISG Focus Area
ISG works globally with partners and allies on a range of partner advising, education, and professional development programs organized around the following capacity building focus areas.
Regional Focus
- Africa
- Europe
- Indo-Pacific
- Middle East & Central Asia
- Western Hemisphere
ICB Advising & Defense Management
- Strategy, Policy, & Planning
- Human Resource Management
- Financial Management
- Logistics
- Cyber Capability
- Intelligence
- Professional Military Education
Education & Professional Development
- Security Governance
- Civil-Military Relations
- Conflict, Terrorism, & Protection
- Maritime Security
- Emergency Management & Resilience
- Peacekeeping & Exercises
- Cyber Capability
- Defense Acquisition
- Logistics
Emergent Capabilities
- Women, Peace, & Security
- Civilian Harm Mitigation
- Climate Security
- Space
Our Activities - FY23 Snapshot
ISG is dedicated to advancing U.S. national security and policy objectives by building the institutional capacity of partner nation militaries. ISG carries out this mission – at ISG headquarters in Monterey, CA and around the globe – through resident, mobile, and virtual education activities as well as through resident and non-resident advising.