L to R – Gen. Plehn, Gen. Lara Jaramillo, Dr. Angelo

On July 20, the Perry Center was honored to receive Ecuadorian Minister of Defense General Luis Lara Jaramillo for a visit. Minister of Defense Lara was greeted by National Defense University President Lieutenant General Michael Plehn and Perry Center Director Dr. Paul Angelo. Minister of Defense Lara and his delegation received an orientation briefing from Dr. Angelo and engaged with faculty on the issues of cybersecurity and climate security. In the near future, the Center will observe an Ecuadorian government exercise to prepare for the environmental effects of the El Niño phenomenon. Discussion also included other in-country engagements and academic partnerships like one between the Center and Ecuador’s Armed Forces University (ESPE). Minister of Defense Lara also had the opportunity to meet three Ecuadorian students currently attending courses at the Perry Center. Dr. Angelo most recently visited Ecuador in June to participate in the inaugural US-Ecuador Defense Bilateral Working Group.