On September 12, Perry Center Deputy Director Jeffrey Murphy welcomed 44 security and defense professionals from 13 countries in the Americas for a two-week resident course on Defense Governance. The course, led by Dr. Luis Bitencourt, focuses on the essential elements of effective and efficient management of security and defense institutions within a democratic environment. “Our focus with the relationship between defense and democracy…is exactly the approach that makes this course extremely valuable for our entire region,” said Deputy Director Murphy. Discussion topics – such as strategic planning, interagency relationships, anti-corruption integration, and civilian roles and training – are explored in the context of the norms and histories of countries in the region. Course participants include 18 women and 24 civilians.