On May 12th the Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies hosted a group of 71 faculty and students from the Mexican Navy’s Centro de Estudios Superiores Navales (Center for Superior Naval Studies – CESNAV) headed by Admiral Carlos F. Quinto Guillen at National Defense University’s Abraham Lincoln Hall.

The Dean of Academics, Dr. Luis Bitencourt, and Professors Dr. Isidro Sepulveda and Dr. Patricia Escamilla-Hamm, gave a panel discussion on regional security challenge topics, such as maritime issues, transnational criminal organizations and illicit activities in Mexico and the United States. After a brief overview of CHDS’ history and role the panel covered topics such as piracy in the Straits of Malacca and the Gulf of Aden, as well as commentary on Mexican policies and efforts to curb illicit trafficking. Dr. Craig Deare, Associate Dean at the NDU College of International Security Affairs (CISA), also gave a presentation about CISA and the US perspective on US-Mexican organized crime. Deare is a former member of the faculty at CHDS. The program concluded with a lunch provided courtesy of the Office of the Defense Attaché at the United States Embassy in Mexico.

The program marked a continuation of the long series of programs, including teleconferences and academic exchanges, that have marked the successful and ongoing relationship between CESNAV and CHDS.