CHDS Director Dr. Downie delivering his graduation remarks

Following three intense weeks of coursework, CHDS Director Dr. Richard Downie brought to a close the residence phase of three advanced courses and one specialized course, which was attended by 59 participants from throughout the Hemisphere (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States, and Uruguay). These courses included: three avanced courses — Governance, Governability, and Security in the Americas, taught by Professor Michael Gold-Biss; Political-Military Relations and Democratic Leadership, taught by Professor Jaime García; Strategy and International Security, taught by Professor Scott Tollefson; and one Specialized course, Strategic Implications of Human Rights and the Rule of Law, taught by Professor Pat Paterson.

Each of these courses was developed to enhance the CHDS participants’ capacity to address potential resolutions associated with relevant and important regional topics, while showcasing the diversity of our student populations (by country as well as professional experience) formed the basis for enriching dialogue, which contributed to a higher level of exchange and understanding of the common problems confronting our Hemisphere.

In his closing remarks, Dr. Downie congratulated the participants on their academic efforts; wished them luck in successfully completing their Phase 3 requirements; and welcomed the first-timers among them to the CHDS community, noting how the CHDS alumni network is a broad and extraordinary group and that they, CHDS alumni, would always be welcome at the Center.