On Monday, September 28, the William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies kicked-off a virtual version of its annual Washington Security and Defense Seminar (WSDS). Perry Center Director LTG (Ret.) Frederick Rudesheim welcomed nearly 200 diplomats representing 21 countries in Latin America and Caribbean to the forum. Day 1 featured a geopolitical overview by keynote speaker ADM (Ret.) James Stavridis and COVID-19 discussions focused on the US and Western Hemisphere by USPHS Deputy Surgeon General, RADM Erica Schwartz and PAHO Director of Health Emergencies, Dr. Ciro Ugarte, respectively.

WSDS is a weeklong forum to provide advanced orientation of USG structure, policy, and processes to the local Latin America and Caribbean diplomatic community. Participants have the unique opportunity to hear perspectives from high-level policy experts from the US Government, academic community, and private sector in an academic non-attribution environment facilitated by the Perry Center. WSDS is directed by Professor Patrick Paterson and facilitated by Dr. Fabiana Perera, Dr. William Godnick, Dr. Luis Bitencourt, Dr. Boris Saavedra, Professor Celina Realuyo, and Mr. Walter Earle.