LTG (Ret.) Ed smith with the Philippines Alumni Association and Distinguished Guests
HONOLULU– Getting out into the region is a priority for the new Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies director. Retired Army Lieutenant General Ed Smith just completed his second trip to the region since he began working at the Center in August.Recently he completed a trip to the Philippines where he met with senior host-nation leaders as well as the new PI APCSS Alumni Association. Previously he visited Malaysia and Thailand.
APCSS is expanding its focus from resident courses in Hawaii to hosting some conferences and mini-courses in the Asia-Pacific Region. The first conference hosted outside Hawaii, solely sponsored by APCSS, was held in Japan in October.
“Our plans for an Outreach Program will fulfill a need,” said Smith. “Everywhere I went people said that it was important to engage in APCSS programs those who may not be able to get to Hawaii.” The goal of the APCSS Outreach and Education Program is to expose more security practitioner neighbors to APCSS program offerings, specifically those who may not be able to attend a resident course or conference held in Hawaii. The initiative also offers partnering host-nations opportunities to demonstrate continuing leadership in important security cooperation education in the region.
APCSS plans to partner with other similar organizations in the region to produce mini-course and conferences tailored to particular sub-region security issues and needs. Two conferences are in the planning phases for the spring and summer 2006 timeframe, and plans are being made to host the first mini-course in Malaysia this Spring in coordination with the Southeast Asia Regional Center for Counter Terrorism.
In addition to conferences and mini-courses, APCSS faculty members will continue to partner with counterpart academics in the region on policy-relevant research projects.
Check www.apcss.org for more information on these events as it becomes available.
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