Defense Security Cooperation University (DSCU) leaders and members of the Council on Occupational Education (COE) gather following the COE’s reaffirmation of accreditation site visit, at the DSCU headquarters in the National Capital Region, Nov. 18, 2025. The COE reaffirmation process is a comprehensive evaluation and review to ensure institutions meet the Commission’s Standards and Conditions for Accreditation.

In early December, the Defense Security Cooperation University’s (DSCU) Institute for Security Governance (ISG), at the invitation of the U.S. Embassy Port Moresby, conducted a Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) workshop with Papua New Guinea’s government ministries and agencies. The workshop aimed to promote a cohesive approach to maritime governance and enhance the country’s ability to respond to sea-based challenges.

ARLINGTON, January 5, 2025 — In Dec. 2024, the Defense Security Cooperation University’s (DSCU) Defense SCO Institute (DSI) graduated the first 16 Security Cooperation Organization (SCO) Qualification Course students Dec. 6, 2024. This eight-week course, the first of its kind wholly taught in the National Capital Region (NCR), offered new educational opportunities targeted toward preparation for SCO activities such as strategic planning, cross-functional collaboration, and improving agility needed to keep up with the pace of the evolving field of security cooperation.

The Defense Security Cooperation University (DSCU) Institutional Capacity Building Team – Tbilisi, Georgia was honored with the 2024 Secretary of Defense Sustainment Training, Advice, and Assistance of Foreign Military Forces Award in the Ministerial Category on Dec. 11, 2024. This recognition is the result of a dynamic team effort between DSCU’s team of Institute for Security Governance (ISG) Regional Advisors and the Ministry of Defense Advisor (MoDA) team in Tbilisi.

Announcing the latest ISG Heron – a quarterly newsletter that shines a spotlight on the Institute for Security Governance's work in Security Cooperation and Institutional Capacity Building, and showcases the dedicated individuals behind these important initiatives.

The Institute for Security Governance (ISG) recently concluded a four-part Institutional Capacity Building (ICB) workshop series in Mogadishu, Somalia that focused on Human Resources Management, Logistics, and Civil-Military Relations. ISG engaged with Somali Ministry of Defense and Somali National Armed Forces personnel via interactive exercises to share knowledge, gain insights on challenges, and inform capacity development priorities to advance MoD and SNAF force management capabilities.