Thirty-one senior leaders from 25 locations completed the Transnational Security Cooperation course (TSC) 19-1 from May 19-24 at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (DKI APCSS).

The course manager was Dr. Scott Hauger and the course coordinator was Maj. Alex Botardo.

The course is offered twice a year to senior security practitioners from the whole-of-government and society at the vice-minister, ambassador, and senior military officer (one- to four-star rank) level.  It aims to enhance awareness of transnational security issues within the complex environments they occur; explore collaborative policies to address transnational security challenges; identify opportunities to strengthen states’ capacities; and promote effective security governance.

A TSC Fellow explains his idea to the group in Maluhia Hall.

“The mix of officials has been conducive to sharing experiences, because many of the challenges each of us are confronted with individually, all are also confronted with such challenges,” explained Tepaeru Herrmann, Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Cook Islands. “The manner in which the individuals are brought together allows a real good sharing of best practices – of sharing of challenges.”

TSC 19-1 examined the nexus between traditional and non-traditional elements of security to highlight the importance of a broader understanding of security. The blended approach of plenary lectures, elective presentations and an interactive gaming simulation kept these senior leaders actively from around the Indo-Pacific region engaged in a shared learning experience throughout the week.

As in all DKI APCSS courses, each Fellow walked away from their experience with a different perspective of the course.

“It is very important for us to know ‘What is Security?’ especially for a small country like mine surrounded by big powers, it is very important and critical for us to understand the global theater of security, terrorism, so this course was very important for me,” said Kinley Wangdi, Director, Directorate of Services, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bhutan.

A TSC Fellow asks Assoc. Prof. Elina Noor a question during a plenary discussion.

TSC is one of five formal courses at DKI APCSS. The Center is a Department of Defense institution that addresses regional and global security issues. Military and civilian representatives, mostly from the Indo-Pacific nations, participate in a comprehensive program of executive education, professional exchanges and outreach events, both in Hawaii and throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

The Center supports U.S. Indo-Pacific Command by developing and sustaining relationships among security practitioners and national security establishments throughout the region. DKI APCSS’ mission is to build capacities and communities of interest by educating, connecting and empowering security practitioners to advance Indo-Pacific security. It is one of the Department of Defense’s five regional security studies centers.

Since opening in 1995, more than 12,434 alumni representing over 135 countries and territories have attended DKI APCSS courses and workshops.