Comprehensive Security Cooperation Course 25-2: The First Step Toward Contribution Is Understanding

By Douglas Carroll, Public Affairs Specialist

HONOLULU – As the class of Comprehensive Security Cooperation (CSC 25-2) course first arrived at the Center, the only thing brighter than the Waikīkī sunshine was the smiles on the participants’ faces.

Nearly two months later, the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies concluded its second CSC of the year, awarding golden lanyards of accomplishment to 100 new Fellows from 39 locations across the globe.

The five-week, in-residence executive program prepares mid-level military, government, and nongovernment professionals in the security sector to develop resilient solutions to pressing Indo-Pacific challenges. The course also fosters professional relationships and a sense of community, adding to an alumni network that now exceeds 16,000 members.

One Fellow, Jozef McGurk, an engineering officer in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, became the first participant from his country in a decade. While he arrived with limited expectations, his experience exceeded them.

“The exposure and breadth of expertise on display has been incredible, as were the opportunities to build lasting fellowship,” McGurk said. “The major takeaway is the interaction with people from other countries—hearing their perspectives and understanding their challenges has been massively eye-opening.”

“I’ve met people I never expected to meet. It’s been a very powerful experience,” he added.

McGurk said the academic rigor and range of topics—from maritime security and cognitive warfare to artificial intelligence and the intersection of emerging technologies with government and the private sector—offered him valuable insights.

“It’s a unique opportunity to spend time thinking about emerging problems and solutions,” he said. “As an engineer, the technology aspect really fascinates me.”

“More broadly, understanding New Zealand’s role in this environment and the Indo-Pacific as a whole is essential. From what we’ve learned here, there are challenges that no single country can solve. We need to contribute—and the first step toward contribution is to understand.”

Understanding the broader strategic environment is a key objective of the course. Participants heard from some of the Indo-Pacific’s top defense leaders, including Adm. David Johnston, chief of the Australian Defence Force. Drawing on extensive experience in leadership, maritime and joint operations, Johnston shared Australia’s vision for regional defense and resilience.

A few days later, Adm. Sam Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, visited the Center. As the senior U.S. military leader in the region, Paparo offered a frank assessment of the current security landscape and emphasized the importance of shared deterrence efforts to ensure regional peace and prosperity. He also answered questions from the Fellows, providing a rare opportunity for personal interaction with the commander of the nation’s oldest and largest combatant command.

To further broaden participants’ understanding and foster regional connections, the course hosted an open house event organized by course manager Dr. Elizabeth Kunce. The session featured seven Hawaii-based organizations—dubbed Partners in Deterrence—that presented on their missions and collaboration opportunities.

Participating agencies included the Joint Interagency Task Force West; the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS); the Pacific Disaster Center (PDC Global); the East-West Center; the Indo-Pacific Defense Forum; and the Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance.

“There are so many outstanding organizations on the island doing great work to close gaps in regional vulnerabilities,” Kunce said. “They’re also committed to working together to deter shared threats.”

Fellows rotated through briefings with each organization to learn about their roles and build new professional connections.

“I think it turned out very well,” Kunce said. “Everyone seemed to come away with new relationships, and it looks like some training opportunities emerged from the event. I believe it was a worthwhile day.”