(L to R) Dr. Paul Angelo, RADM (ret.) Cíbar Benítez Cáceres, Kara O’Ryan, MG Edwin Martínez

From September 22 to 26, 2025, the William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies participated in the 26th Conference of the Association of Ibero-American Defense Colleges hosted by the Institute of Advanced Strategic Studies in Asunción, Paraguay. Nearly thirty representatives from member countries—including Brazil (Superior War College), Chile (National Academy of Political and Strategic Studies), Colombia (Superior School of War), Ecuador (Joint Military Defense Academy), Mexico (National Defense College), Peru (Center for Higher National Studies), Portugal (National Defense Institute), and Spain (Center for Higher National Defense Studies)—attended. Special invitees included the Inter-American Defense College and the Perry Center.

Perry Center leadership in attendance included Perry Center Director Dr. Paul J. Angelo and Associate Director of Outreach and Admissions Kara O’Ryan. Permanent Secretary of the National Defense Council Minister and Perry Center alumnus RADM (ret.) Cíbar Benítez Cáceres provided the keynote address for the conference, which featured sessions on national defense and development, sustainable development and security in Ibero-America, regional cooperation against transnational threats, the role of the armed forces in crisis management, and the resilience of military and civilian organizations in the face of current security and defense challenges.

In parallel with the conference, the Perry Center conducted outreach activities with its Paraguayan alumni community and joined the US Embassy in Paraguay in recognizing recent Perry Center graduates of the virtual Cyber Fundamentals course during a certificate ceremony.