Defense Security Cooperation Agency

Announcing the latest ISG Heron – a quarterly newsletter that shines a spotlight on our work in Security Cooperation and Institutional Capacity Building and showcases the dedicated individuals behind these important initiatives. https://lnkd.in/gTnUCDSd In this issue, ISG:     • Spotlights our successful bi-annual on-site in Monterey. • Highlights DASD for Cyber Policy’s visit to Monterey. • Welcomes two new, accomplished Regional Advising Experts. • Profiles how the Institute lends expertise to two key African conventions. • Offers a standing ovation to ISG’s Maritime Security Functional Lead, Mr. Tim Doorey. • Celebrates our five-year milestone with a brief snapshot of the Institute’s accomplishments. • Explores the reinvention of the Women, Leadership, and National Defense resident course. • Marks the signing of Panama’s first Joint Operating Concept. • Showcases a brief roundup of the external fora in which ISG colleagues present and publish. Like what you read? Pass it on to a colleagues or friend. Sign up to receive The ISG Heron directly to your inbox each month by clicking the link at the bottom of this ISG Heron issue. #DSCA #DSCU #ISG #HeronSpotting #inthisissue 

DSCA wishes everyone a Happy Fourth of July!   Nearly 250 years ago, our burgeoning nation found itself amidst upheaval and global competition. During the American Revolution, the Continental Congress relied upon alliances and partnerships to help secure our country’s freedom. Though times have changed, certain principles have not: Common challenges demand common action. DSCA takes pride in continuing this tradition, advancing U.S. national security and foreign policy by supporting Allies and forging partnerships around the world, for the common good.   #dsca #dscu #isg #diils #drmi #securitycooperation #departmentofdefense #statedepartment #strongertogether #fourthofjuly”  

The Defense Security Cooperation University’s College of Strategic Security Cooperation (CSSC) recently partnered with the U.S. Department of State (DoS) and the U.S. Naval War College (NWC) to present a continuing education webinar on increasing partner nation female participation and representation in education and training opportunities.    The 2023 Women Peace and Security (WPS) Strategy and National Action Plan, https://lnkd.in/ep9dvJ5G, directs the U.S. government to “seek and support the preparation and meaningful participation of women and girls in civic and political leadership, in informal and formal decision-making processes, and in institutions related to peace and security.” The session discussed how to address the participation line of effort as it relates to education and training.   More than 140 Department of Defense personnel, the gender advisory workforce, and the security cooperation workforce attended the virtual event. Webinar presenters included Ms. Lia Miller (DoS), Mr. Matthew Mullins-Hall (DoS), Dr. Saira Yamin (NWC), Mr. Clay Benton (DSCU), and Dr. Fabiana Perera (DSCU’s CSSC.)   #dsca #dscu #wps #partnerships  

Reflecting on an incredible week here in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada! Today, the second North American Arctic Security Workshop (NAASW), collaboratively hosted and designed by the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies (TSC), the North American and Arctic Defence and Security Network (NAADSN), and Ilisimatusarfik’s Nasiffik Center, concluded after three days of meaningful dialogue on the broad and multifaceted aspects affecting North American Arctic security. This is the second in a series of workshops iteratively working westward, starting with Nuuk, Greenland in 2023, followed by Iqaluit, Nunavut in 2024, and finally the U.S. Arctic in Alaska in 2025. In doing so, the intent is to provide geographically unique perspectives that collectively compose a continental-wide mosaic of salient factors affecting the overall security of North America’s Arctic region. More than 60 participants attended the three-day workshop, held May 22-24, 2024. Participants represented a collaborative structure that allowed for Arctic experts, researchers, students, and practitioners to convene and discuss emerging regional security challenges. A comprehensive workshop report that details concerns, opportunities, recommendations, and inquiries discussed will be available online in the coming months. #NAASW24 | #ArcticSecurity | #SecurityCooperation

Recently, the Defense Security Cooperation University and the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment (OUSD (A&S)) co-hosted the Foreign Military Sale Symposium, “Professionalization of the Workforce and the Promise of Security Cooperation,” in the National Capital Region.    Approximately 250 policymakers, scholars, practitioners, and defense industry professionals gathered during the 1.5-day event to examine ways to build a stronger foundation for innovation in executing the FMS process.   The FMS Symposium increased awareness and understanding across the security cooperation enterprise of the Department of Defense’s role in implementing the FMS process and enhancing the performance of the U.S. defense industrial base.    For more information about the Symposium click here: https://lnkd.in/e5F5NqD2   DSCU and all of DSCA greatly appreciate the contributions of the esteemed participants from U.S. government, academia, Partner Nations, and U.S. industry who helped advance the field of #SecurityCooperation during the Symposium.   The event included U.S. government speakers from: U.S. Department of State Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment Defense Security Cooperation Agency U.S. Army Security Assistance Command Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Air Force Security Assistance and Cooperation Directorate Institute for Security Governance   #partnerships #dsca #dscu

On June 4, I had the pleasure of giving a keynote address at the 2024 Danish Bilateral Export Promotion symposium in Washington, D.C. It is a three-day event which aims to create exposure for the Danish defense industry and establish connections with the U.S. defense industrial base and the United States Department of Defense, as well as create a platform to showcase the Danish defense industrial base’s capabilities and services. The engagement was attended by several important Danish government representatives including His Royal Highness Brigadier General Prince Joachim, Danish Defense Industrial Attaché; and Lieutenant General Kim Jesper Jørgensen, Danish National Armaments Director. It was also attended by executives from 15 to 20 Danish companies and 15 to 20 U.S. companies. In my remarks, I addressed the significance of the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program as a critical component of U.S. foreign policy and national security and the role it plays in maintaining U.S. alliances and partnerships. I also discussed the status of FMS reform and current and expected future trends in the FMS program. I want to thank the Embassy of Denmark for inviting me to contribute to this discussion.  Mange tak! #DSCA #SECURITYCOOPERATION #NATO #DENMARK

DSCA’s mission is to advance U.S. defense and foreign policy interests by building the capacity of foreign partners to encourage and enable allies and partners to respond to shared challenges. An integral part of that mission is administering the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program across the United States Department of Defense on behalf of the U.S. Department of State. DSCA has brought a new, educational tool online to help bring clarity to a highly complex and deliberative process. Defense Security Cooperation University, as the center of intellectual life for the #securitycooperation enterprise, collaborated with subject matter experts to create a publicly available course that offers an overview of the FMS process, from requirements generation to case closure. The virtual Wall Walk is a mobile-ready course and is intended for a diverse community – really, anyone interested in learning more about security cooperation and how the U.S. Federal Government uses these programs to meet important foreign policy and national security objectives. Click here for virtual Wall Walk: https://lnkd.in/eTH3-tH7

Today, we wrapped the inaugural Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Symposium and Industry Day! This symposium’s theme centered on the “Professionalization of the Workforce and the Promise of Security Cooperation.” The 1.5-day event gathered #SecurityCooperation policymakers, scholars and practitioners and defense industry professionals for dialogue and analysis around key issues facing the security cooperation community and the FMS process. On behalf of all DSCU personnel and our co-host, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment, thank you to the diverse and talented group of participants for joining us! We hope you enjoyed the expert lineup of speakers, engaging sessions, and networking opportunities. For those who could not attend, continue to follow us! We will share more information next week. #dsca #dscu #partnerships

It was my pleasure to recently speak with the 18 students in the Defense Security Cooperation University’s Security Cooperation Organization (SCO) Refresher Course. I was able to engage with these colleagues returning to the #SecurityCooperation workforce as Senior Defense Official/Defense Attachés (SDO/DATT) and SCO Chiefs. We discussed the strategic impact these students will have in their next assignments.  Importantly, we had a great discussion about the new Defense Security Cooperation Service (DSCS), which will consolidate the support infrastructure of the United States Department of Defense's critical SCO personnel at U.S. embassies into a single organization to ensure appropriate allocation of limited personnel resources across a global demand. The DSCS will transform the way these leaders are organized, equipped, and managed. DSCU’s new Defense SCO Institute designed this refresher course for returning senior SCO personnel who will design, integrate, implement, and manage security sector cooperation programs at the country and regional levels. Thank you to these leaders and their families for their commitment to the security cooperation mission and engaging with our allies and partners as the DSCS representative in their assigned countries! #dsca #dscu #securitycooperation

Prior to my departure from Seoul, I met with United States Forces Korea (USFK) Deputy Commander Lieutenant General David R. Iverson and J4 Brigadier General Martine S. Kidd to share our perspectives. I then transitioned to the Daniel K. Inouye Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies (DKIAPCSS) in Honolulu, one of DOD’s six regional centers worldwide of which DSCA is the Executive Agent. During my visit to APCSS, I spoke to students at the Comprehensive Security Cooperation course, where I emphasized the importance of respecting different views while finding ways to cooperate, as relationships cannot be surged. I also emphasized the relationships that are made amongst alumni. I then bid farewell to RADM Pete Gumataotao, USN (retired), as he prepares to depart APCSS this summer. Fair Winds and Following Seas, Pete! At U.S. Indo-Pacific Command HQ, J5 Major General Jay Bargeron and I exchanged our views, on how security cooperation supports our warfighters. Prior to returning to Washington, I visited the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) forensic lab at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam, where I witnessed Team DPAA’s dedication to identify the missing and return them home, with dignity. I would like to thank those who hosted me for office calls during this trip, especially their staffers.  #dsca #securitycooperation #apcss