On January 27-31, Acting Director Ken LaPlante traveled to the Dominican Republic to attend the Caribbean Nations Security Conference (CANSEC). During his visit, he participated in several events with the Center’s alumni and partner institutions in that country. In addition, Mr. LaPlante met with General Héctor Payán, Director of the Higher Institute for Defense (Instituto Superior para la Defensa – INSUDE), General Luís Francisco de León, Director of the Graduate School for Advanced Studies (Escuela de Graduados de Altos Estudios – EGAE), both partner institutions of the Perry Center, and with some 105 members of the Grupo de Expertos en Seguridad y Defensa (GESD), a consortium of alumni from various security and defense institutions in the Dominican Republic.

Mr. LaPlante discussed with the leaders of the local partner institutions possible collaboration options, including a series of video teleconferences (VTC), presentations by Perry Center experts, distance learning modules and workshops. During his meetings, Mr. LaPlante had the opportunity to observe how graduates have applied the skills they learned through the Perry Center’s various programs in their careers as security and defense policymakers.