On April 21, 2025, the William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies and the Inter-American Defense College (IADC) celebrated the graduation of the first co-branded Space Policy and Strategy course. With thirty-four participants from fourteen countries, this milestone program convened military and civilian leaders to explore outer space’s strategic, political, and technological dimensions in the twenty-first century.
Developed and led by Dr. Arturo Sotomayor, the course covered key topics such as space strategy and policy, space law and governance, regional space cooperation in Latin America, NASA’s Artemis initiative, and the civil-military implications of space operations. Over five weeks, participants explored Latin America’s emerging role in space and evaluated the dual-use nature of space technologies, which serve both military and civilian purposes. The course was designed to focus on protecting critical infrastructure and space assets, including satellites and launch sites, as well as the importance of investing in human resources and STEM education. Participants were encouraged to consider the implications of establishing national space forces and the broader use of space for military purposes beyond weapons deployment, such as reconnaissance, communication, and navigation. The concept of space deterrence was examined both theoretically and empirically as part of a lesson on space strategy. Through guest lectures, interactive policy exercises, and a final strategic simulation, participants gained valuable insights into how space intersects with defense, strategic competition, and international security.
The graduation ceremony featured keynote remarks from Colonel Laurel V. Walsh, US Space Force Chair to the National Defense University. Perry Center Director Dr. Paul Angelo welcomed participants to the graduation ceremony, emphasizing that “this course is not just an academic innovation; it is an investment in the future of our shared neighborhood… Just as in 1962 when President Kennedy invited us to look toward the moon, today, together, we look toward space with a shared strategy and vision.”
This inaugural collaboration underscores both institutions’ role in preparing security and defense professionals to engage with one of the fastest-evolving arenas in global affairs. Cooperation and regional dialogue remain essential as space assets become integral to critical infrastructure.
The Perry Center continues to expand its space policy and security work, with upcoming engagements planned in Brazil and Argentina, as well as participation in regional conferences throughout the Americas.
