APCSS Director Air Force Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Dan Leaf and senior fellow Ms. Maria “Gettie” Sandoval, Under Secretary, Office of the Presidential Advisor on the Peace Process, Philippines, display the course banner at the ASC 12-2 commencement ceremeony. Ninety three senior military and civilian government leaders from 34 countries, territories and one international organization graduate from the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies Advanced Security Cooperation Course Oct. 31, 2012.

Ninety three senior military and civilian government leaders from 34 countries,  territories, and one international organization graduated October 31 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, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Palau, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tonga, United States, Vanuatu, 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.  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.

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 6,924 alumni.

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