On September 9, 2024, the Perry Center launched the resident phase of two courses: “Climate Change and Implications for Defense and Security” and “Governance and Strategy for Security and Defense.” In total, 99 professionals representing 25 countries will spend the next two weeks in Washington, DC, engaging with top officials and subject matter experts. We were honored to have Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs Rebecca Zimmerman welcome participants with a keynote address on the first day.

Perry Center Director Paul J. Angelo welcomes participants

The Climate Change and Implications for Defense and Security (CCIDS) course, led by Dr. Erin McFee and Mr. Max Nathanson, explores the role of security and defense institutions in combatting climate change and the security implications of global temperature increases. It specifically addresses the impact on governments and communities in Latin American and Caribbean nations.

The Governance and Strategy for Security and Defense (GSSD) course, led by Dr. David Spencer and Dr. Luis Bitencourt, is an evolution of the Perry Center’s flagship course designed to explore roles and responsibilities related to defense governance within a ministry of defense of a Latin American democratic nation. It encourages improved civil-military relations and interagency cooperation.

We welcome all participants – civilian, military, and government – to the Perry Center. Of note, women comprise more than one-third of the GSSD participants and an impressive 45 percent of the CCIDS participants.