On March 9, 2026, the William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies launched the Caribbean Security and Defense (CSD) course, its flagship academic program for representatives from Caribbean partner nations. The program convenes military officers, police officials, and civilian leaders to examine the region’s most pressing security and defense challenges within a hemispheric and global context.
Dean of Academic Affairs Dr. William Godnick directs the course, and Deputy Course Coordinator Sydney Knapp manages its execution. The program delivers sessions on geopolitics, the US National Security Strategy, maritime and border security, cybersecurity and emerging technologies, illicit finance and money laundering, and regional security cooperation mechanisms such as CARICOM IMPACS and the Regional Security System. In a complex security environment shaped by transnational organized crime, illicit trafficking, cyber threats, and increasing vulnerability to extreme weather events, the course challenges participants to assess how these dynamics intersect with US policy frameworks and broader Western Hemisphere trends.
This year’s CSD iteration reflects an expanded regional focus. The course includes six participants from the Haitian National Police, representing one of the largest cohorts from Haiti to date. It also includes eight participants from Guatemala and El Salvador, whose countries contribute personnel to the Multinational Security Support mission in Haiti. These participants seek to deepen their understanding of the broader Caribbean security environment and build connections across cultural and language differences. Guatemala’s Caribbean coastline, including communities such as Livingston and Puerto Barrios, underscores the geographic and cultural ties that link Central America and the Caribbean.
Through lectures, breakout group discussions, academic exercises, and participant presentations, CSD strengthens strategic analysis, fosters professional dialogue, and enhances collaboration among Caribbean defense and security leaders, reinforcing the Perry Center’s commitment to building enduring regional networks.
