Eighty nine senior military and civilian government leaders from 36 countries, territories, and one international organization graduated June 5 from the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies “Executive Course: Advanced Security Cooperation” .
Attending the regional security course were representatives from: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Timor-Leste, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Micronesia, Mongolia, Nauru, Nepal, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tonga, United States, Vietnam and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
The four-week Executive Course focus is on building relationships among mid-career leaders and decision makers within the region and has over the years produced 2,783 alumni. Its curriculum emphasizes the non-war fighting aspects of security and international relations, and challenges Fellows to develop regional and transnational perspectives. Security is examined as a comprehensive mix of political, economic, social, military, diplomatic, information and ecological dimensions.
Course Manager, Dr. Justin Nankivell, praised a successful first engagement with the Women, Peace, and Security initiative, an important topic that links a critical group of people with the new and expanding security domain of internal security.” Ms. Emilia A. Katsong, a senior Foreign Service officer from Palau, said the course “really opened my eyes and raised my awareness of the security issues in the region. I walk away from this program with a much wealth of knowledge that I will be able to use in my day to day work and in the future. “It was 4 ½ weeks of education, improvement and connection on the Asia-Pacific security environment, and I was privileged to be a part of it”, added Air Force Lt. Col. Reese Evers, Course Coordinator.
The Executive Course students discussed national policy, and how the economic, diplomatic, political, cultural and military elements of power affect stability and security of the region as a whole.
The Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies is a Department of Defense academic institute that addresses regional and global security issues. Military and civilian representatives, most from the U.S. and Asia-Pacific nations, participate in a comprehensive program of executive education, professional exchanges and outreach events, both in Hawaii and throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The Center supports the U.S. Pacific Command by developing and sustaining relationships among security practitioners and national security establishments throughout the region. APCSS’ mission is to build capacities and communities of interest by educating, connecting, and empowering security practitioners to advance Asia-Pacific security. It is one of the Department of Defense’s five regional security studies centers.
Since opening in 1995, APCSS has had representatives from 104 countries and territories, and four international organizations attend courses at the Center for a total of 6,548 alumni.
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Just a small comment that you missed out BHUTAN in your list of representatives in the Advance Security Cooperation (ASC 12-1) course. Though there was just one Bhutan was represented.