MG Javier Fernandez Leal greeted by WJPC Acting Director Ken LaPlante

On September 19, the Perry Center honored the recipient of the 2013 Perry Award in the Institutional Category, the Escuela Superior de Guerra de Colombia (Colombian National War College – ESDEGUE). Since 2007, the Perry Center has awarded the William J. Perry Award for Excellence in Security and Defense Education to individuals and institutions to recognize their significant contributions in the field of security and defense studies. Awardees are chosen for their achievements in promoting education, research, outreach, and knowledge-sharing on security and defense issues that affect the Western Hemisphere. These efforts have often resulted in the enhancement of security and defense capacity, the advancement of cooperative international security environment, and the fostering of effective civil-military relations, consistent with the Perry Center’s core values.

ESDEGUE educates and trains senior officers of the Colombian armed forces as well-rounded leaders in the fields of national security and defense. Over the past century, ESDEGUE has solidified itself as the center of military strategic thinking in Colombia. Through an internationalist lens, ESDEGUE promotes joint strategic doctrine as the means for winning military engagements, consolidating peace, and contributing to the development of Colombia and the Americas.

During a private luncheon held at the Perry Center, Acting Director Ken LaPlante presented the award to Major General Javier Fernández Leal, Director of ESDEGUE, who received the award on behalf of his institution.