162

William J. Perry

Center for Hemispheric 

Defense Studies

Annual Report

2015
William J. Perry Center for 

Hemispheric Defense Studies

National Defense University

260 5th Avenue, Building 64

Fort McNair, DC 20319-5066

Director

Mr. Mark S. Wilkins

Dean of Academic Affairs

Dr. Scott Tollefson

Chief of Staff

Mr. Jeffrey Murphy

Chief of Strategic Plans & Communications

COL Robert Alvaro, USA

Annual Report Editor

Ms. Kaitlyn Robinson
CONTENTS 

Message from the Director

Perry Center Mission

FY 2015 Highlights

FY 2015 Programs

Governance Programs

Hemispheric Forums

Virtual Learning

Recent Publications

Educational Outreach

The Perry Award

Internship Program

Faculty and Staff Listing

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MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

 n Fiscal Year (FY) 2015, the William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies (WJPC) set out to 

 reaffirm our reputation as a leading security and defense studies institution for the Western Hemisphere. 

 WJPC worked closely with regional partners to strengthen defense institutional governance in the Americas, 

thereby fostering transparency, accountability, and institutionalized respect for human rights. Deepening our 

working relationship with the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (OUSDP) and collaborating 

with other defense education and security cooperation programs, WJPC helped partner nations in Central 

America develop and implement national strategies and modernize their defense and security establishments. 

These efforts helped to bolster other DOD security cooperation programs and transform our hemispheric 

neighbors into better, stronger U.S. partners.

Many of our alumni have advanced to occupy positions of prominence in their home countries, both in the 

private and public sectors. This past year, we were particularly proud to witness and then have as a graduation 

speaker President David Granger, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. President Granger was first 

a student and later an Adjunct Professor at the Perry Center, and he remains a friend and supporter.

A major highlight of FY 2015 was our Managing Security and Defense Senior Executive Course (MSD). Held in 

June 2015, MSD provided a space in which U.S. and partner nation officials could exchange theoretical and 

practical perspectives of institutional reform. Participating senior defense and security executives learned 

about policy-based leadership, decision-making platforms, results-based budget processes, measures of 

accountability, and effective management practices for organizations in transformation. In addition to MSD, 

other WJPC-led defense institutional building initiatives in FY 2015 helped support good governance, 

transparency, and accountability in the defense sectors of Guatemala and El Salvador. These defense 

governance programs remain WJPC’s top priority for the upcoming year; I am particularly excited about several 

planned regional engagements and our new resident course, Defense Policy and Complex Threats (DPCT), 

which will teach participants about forecasting, resourcing, and posturing for future security environments.

In addition to our resident courses and regional seminars, WJPC hosted several Hemispheric Forums 

throughout the year. These Forums targeted Western Hemisphere security and defense sector practitioners, as 

well as the larger global community of interest. FY 2015 Forums addressed such current issues as energy 

security in the Caribbean, the security and defense challenges posed by emerging technologies, and the high 

incidence of impunity and corruption in the Western Hemisphere. WJPC cooperated with domestic and 

international partners in the region during the planning and execution of the Forums and hosted such 

speakers as General John Kelly, USMC, Commander, United States Southern Command, and Mr. Carl Francis, 

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of National Security of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The Forums of FY 

2015 successfully engaged U.S. and partner nation policymakers, academics, and security and defense officials 

in a dialogue about relevant issues and contributed to a growing community of practice.

WJPC annually recognizes the work of educators, practitioners, and institutions of defense and security for 

their contributions to the fields of security and defense education. The Perry Award honors those security and 

defense professionals who have bolstered democratic security in the Americas and fostered mutual 

understanding among security and defense actors. WJPC awarded the 2015 Perry Award to Admiral Vidal 

Francisco Soberón Sanz, Secretary of the Navy, Mexico, and Dr. Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith, one of the world’s leading 

scholars on Caribbean defense and security issues. These two individuals embody WJPC’s unique academic 

and policy-oriented mission: one as a senior military officer who has demonstrated exceptional intellectual and 

I

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“The Changing Western Hemisphere,” 

Hemispheric Forum, November 18, 2015

operational leadership in supporting the educational efforts of the Mexican Navy, and the other as a scholar 

whose teaching and research have educated a generation of practitioners and policymakers. It is the 

contributions of individuals like Admiral Soberón and Dr. Griffith that help make our hemisphere safer, 

stronger, and more secure.

With FY 2015 now behind us, we are actively planning for the future. As I write this, WJPC has already engaged 

in dozens of visits with senior leaders in defense and security, as well as hosted several educational events 

throughout the region. Themes of good governance, security sector reform, and defense institution building 

will continue to be the cornerstone of WJPC’s programming in the upcoming year – all areas which resonate 

strongly with our hemispheric partners as they contemplate an uncertain and complex security environment. 

Moving forward, I am eager to observe the impact of our many regional seminars, resident courses, and 

educational visits. Of course, the past and future success of WJPC stems from the keen dedication of our 

academic faculty and staff, the continued commitment of domestic and international partners, and the 

unparalleled enthusiasm of our current students and growing community of alumni. Thank you to all for your 

enduring support of WJPC and our mission in the hemisphere.

Mark S. Wilkins

Director

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OUR VISION:

The Perry Center strives to be a leading security and 

defense studies institution for the Western Hemisphere. 

Focused on the future and dedicated to research, the 

Perry Center works to anticipate shifts in the evolving 

security environment, foresee the need for changes in 

security and defense forces, and build shared 

knowledge and foster dialogue among domestic and 

partner nation actors.

OUR MISSION:

The Perry Center is a U.S. Department of Defense 

institution for defense and security studies in the Western 

Hemisphere. Through courses, seminars, outreach, 

strategic dialogue, and focused research in support of 

policy objectives, the Perry Center works with senior 

civilian and military officials from the Americas to build 

strong, sustainable networks of security and defense 

leaders and institutions. In so doing, the Perry Center 

promotes greater understanding of U.S. policy, mutually 

supportive approaches to security challenges, and 

improved, sustainable institutional capacity.

Photos from top to bottom: General John Kelly, USMC, Commander, U.S. Southern 

Command; Mr. Mark S. Wilkins, Director, Perry Center; and Mr. Michael Miklaucic, 

Director of Research, Information, and Publications, Center for Complex Operations, 

gather before the Hemispheric Forum, “The Changing Western Hemisphere.”

Ms. María Cielo Juárez Juárez from the Republic of El Salvador introduces herself 

during the Strategy and Defense Policy (SDP) course.

Professor Guillermo Pacheco gives a presentation on security policy to a delegation 

from the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC) during an 

academic exchange in August 2015.

Mr. Alejandro Alemán, SDIB Regional Coordinator, and RADM (Ret.) Pedro de la Fuente, 

Professor of Practice, Perry Center, speak with Mr. Brian P. McKeon, Principal Deputy 

Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, during the Managing Security and Defense: Senior 

Executive Course (MSD) course.

Professor Pedro de la Fuente converses with SDP participants during the class dinner.

Next Page: Participants of the Strategic Implications of Human Rights and the Rule of 

Law (HR/ROL) course pose with their instructors for a group photo.

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Educate, advise, and mentor current and future security and 

defense leaders by attracting and retaining a world-class academic 

faculty.

Empower partners in their efforts to improve the effectiveness, 

efficiency, and transparency of their security and defense 

establishments by delivering well-synchronized, relevant, and 

tailored academic programs.

OUR PLAN:

Support, shape, and execute the Department of Defense regional 

security policy in the Americas through active senior leader 

dialogue that fosters mutual understanding and brokers shared 

approaches with hemispheric counterparts.

Build a dynamic Education and Outreach Office that actively 

supports the Center’s alumni by promoting a vibrant, collaborative 

community of practitioners.

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72%

Civilian

28%

Military

76%

Male

24%

Female

FY 2015 HIGHLIGHTS:

partner nation 431 graduates & participants

35 countries 

represented

Antigua and Barbuda: 2

Argentina: 7

Bahamas: 2

Barbados: 3

Belize: 9

Bolivia: 5

Brazil: 14

Canada: 3

Chile: 10

Colombia: 64

Costa Rica: 9

Dominica: 2

Dominican Republic: 20

Ecuador: 6

El Salvador: 21

Grenada: 2

Guatemala: 103

Guyana: 3

Haiti: 9

Honduras: 17

Italy: 1

Jamaica: 9

Mexico: 21

Netherlands: 2

Nicaragua: 3

Panama: 8

Paraguay: 10

Peru: 36

Saint Lucia: 2

Spain: 1

St. Vincent and the 

Grenadines: 3

Suriname: 2

Trinidad and Tobago: 15

Uruguay: 5

Venezuela: 2

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11.2% 9.8%

17.7% 

10.2%

Ministries of 

Defense

6.3%

Other 

Ministries

13.5% 

Ministries of 

Interior 

and Police

15.8% 

Ministries of 

Foreign Affairs and 

Embassies

National

Security Councils

15.5%

NGOs and 

International 

Organizations

Military

Services

Other Government 

Agencies

A Resource to 

U.S. Officials Perry Center faculty and 

staff pose for a group 

photo with officers from 

the Jamaican Defence Force 

(JDF) and the District of 

Columbia (DC) National 

Guard, who participated in 

an academic exchange with 

the Perry Center in January 

2015.

Dr. Rebecca Chavez, Deputy 

Assistant Secretary of 

Defense for Western 

Hemisphere Affairs, and 

Director Mark S. Wilkins 

listen to Mr. Marcos 

Robledo Hoecker, Under 

Secretary of Defense of 

Chile, at a roundtable 

discussion in July 2015.

In addition to educating civilian and 

military personnel from partner nations, 

the Perry Center’s many courses, 

seminars, and workshops serve as a 

valuable resource to U.S. officials. In FY 

2015, 29 U.S. civilian and military officials 

participated in Perry Center programs, 

such as the Managing Security and 

Defense: Senior Executive Course (MSD) 

and the Regional Seminar to Combat 

Transnational Organized Crime (CTOC). 

Working alongside partner nation leaders, 

these U.S. officials had the opportunity to 

meet and build sustainable relationships 

with their counterparts from around the 

Western Hemisphere.

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REGIONAL SEMINARS:

Regional Seminars are held in conjunction with regional partners and are tailored to 

the specific objectives identified by the Perry Center, the partner institution, and the 

U.S. embassy team. Regional seminars serve to enhance sustainable institutional 

capacity and emphasize support to national and regional policymakers and leaders.

Left: Professor Guillermo Pacheco 

and Dr. Luis Bitencourt address 

participant questions during a SDP 

lecture.

Right: Participants attend a lecture 

during the SDP course.

RESIDENT COURSES:

Resident courses form the core of the Perry Center academic program. Conducted in 

Spanish or English, foundational and specialized courses are designed to meet the 

evolving needs of sophisticated professionals from the defense and security sectors 

across the hemisphere. Resident phases are one or two weeks in length and are 

preceded and at times followed by a distance learning phase. 

Strategy and Defense Policy (SDP) 

October 20-31, 2014 • Washington, DC • 54 participants from 17 countries

The SDP served as the Perry Center’s foundational course for Spanish-speakers, covering topics such as 

policy analysis and planning; defense planning and resource management; cybersecurity; 

capability-based planning; organizational reform; and security and defense sector reform. Participants 

analyzed the different political perspectives in dealing with security challenges at global, regional and 

national levels.

FY 2015 PROGRAMS:

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Left: Dr. David Spencer discusses 

Colombia as a case study of 

narcoinsurgency during the May 

2015 CTOC course.

Right: Professor Celina Realuyo 

lectures on illicit networks during 

the May 2015 CTOC course.

Colombian Police Seminar

November 10-14, 2014 • Bogotá, Columbia • 26 Colombian participants

This seminar aimed to educate national leaders in themes of hemispheric security and cooperation, to forge 

professional links, to build a sense of mutual understanding, and to secure a lasting partnership with the 

Colombian National Police. Seminar lectures and discussions addressed topics such as the inter-American system 

of security and defense and the regional role of police. The Perry Center has supported a course for the Colombian 

National Police since 2008 which covers content related to the current international and regional security 

environment and its implications for Colombia’s national security.

Threats, Dangers, and Other Security Challenges: New Times, New Operating Environment

December 4-5, 2014 • Washington, DC • 8 Peruvian participants

A delegation of eight students from Peru’s Center for Superior National Studies (CAEN) participated in a series of 

lectures and discussions led by Perry Center faculty. The visiting delegation was part of a 48-person group from 

CAEN that traveled to Washington, DC to meet with representatives from a variety of U.S. agencies. Over the 

two-day visit, Perry Center Professor Guillermo Pacheco and professors from the National Defense University’s 

College of International Security Affairs gave presentations on relevant topics in regional and international 

security.

Combating Transnational Organized Crime and Illicit Networks in the Americas (CTOC)

May 11-22, 2015 • Washington, DC • 32 participants from 16 countries

The principal objective of this resident course was to deepen participants’ understanding of transnational criminal 

organizations (TCOs). Specifically, course lectures highlighted the defense and security threats posed by TCOs in 

the Americas through their illicit activities, such as drug trafficking, money laundering, arms trafficking, human 

smuggling, counterfeiting, and cyber crimes. The course included a visit to the U.S. Congress to hear course 

director Professor Celina Realuyo give testimony before the House of Representatives Committee on Financial 

Services.

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Washington Security and Defense Seminar (WSDS)

September 14-18, 2015 • Washington, DC • 87 participants from 27 countries

This course was designed primarily for members of the diplomatic corps of countries from the Western 

Hemisphere accredited to the White House and to the Organization of American States. Participants 

attended sessions on the formation and implementation of U.S. national security and foreign policy, as 

well as the dynamics of government decision-making. The curriculum combined lectures, 

question-and-answer sessions, and moderated seminar discussions led by Perry Center professors.

Caribbean Defense and Security Course (CDSC)

July 13-24, 2015 • Washington, DC • 49 participants from 17 countries

This course was designed to help participants develop and expand their competence in analyzing issues and 

challenges impacting the Caribbean region, as well as their ability to utilize tools of policy, strategy, planning, 

and resource management to affect reforms in the security and defense sectors. During the course, students 

visited with and heard presentations from security officials at the Inter-American Defense Board and the 

Organization of American States. The course also included a special Hemispheric Forum on corruption, as well 

as an exercise scenario that required participants to utilize critical thinking and crisis-decision making skills to 

solve a cascading series of problems in a fictitious country.

Regional Seminar to Combat Transnational Organized Crime and Illicit Networks (CTOC)

August 10-14, 2015 • Washington, DC • 56 participants from 10 countries

Similar to the CTOC resident course, the objective of this seminar was to build capacity and develop a 

Community of Practice to better understand the threats posed by transnational organized crime, terrorism, and 

illicit networks. Additionally, it emphasized the establishment and advancement of national, regional, and 

international strategies to combat these threats and promote security and prosperity in Latin America. This 

seminar introduced a new format that required significantly more active participation by its attendees. Each 

country represented prepared and delivered a presentation on their views and responses to CTOC. Participants 

welcomed the opportunity to share their country’s perspectives and professional expertise with others from 

around the region.

Strategic Implications of Human Rights and the Rule of Law (HR/ROL)

May 11-22, 2015 • Washington, DC • 34 participants from 14 countries

This course aimed to deepen the participants’ understanding of human rights, the rule of law, international 

humanitarian law, military professionalism, and transitional justice. Its curriculum included case studies of the 

United States, Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, and Syria, among several other countries. Students also visited the 

Organization of American States and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights as part of the course.

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GOVERNANCE PROGRAMS:

“The decision to align the Perry Center with OSD Policy 

continues to pay dividends as we expand the scope and depth 

of our substantive engagement with senior security and 

defense counterparts across the region.”

-Perry Center Director Mark S. Wilkins, June 2015

Perry Center academic programs support the Office of the Secretary of Defense’s effort to 

build and sustain transparent and capable defense and security governance institutions 

around the world. Courses, seminars, and workshops introduce tools to assist policymakers in 

establishing and strengthening the rule of law and practices of good governance in their 

respective nations. In conjunction with institutions across the Department of Defense, the 

Perry Center’s governance programs promote regional stability and broader security 

cooperation in the Western Hemisphere.

Managing Security and Defense: Senior Executive Course (MSD)

June 15-26, 2015, 2015 • Washington, DC • 31 participants from 10 countries

The MSD course was designed to build the capacity of senior security and defense executives, enabling them 

to better manage their respective sectors through effective policies and integrated decisions. The first-ever 

academic program of its kind, this course supported the broader framework of the Perry Center’s governance 

programs. The course addressed a variety of issues, including effective management practices, strategic 

planning, components of multidimensional security, policy-based leadership, decision-making platforms, 

institutional culture, results-based budget processes, information management, force design, logistics, 

procurement and acquisition considerations, and accountability.

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Guatemala White Paper Workshop 

February 11-12, 2015 • Guatemala City, Guatemala • 40 participants from 3 countries

Hosted in coordination with the government of Guatemala, this White Paper Workshop served as a forum for 

high-level Guatemalan officials and representatives from significant components of the Guatemalan security 

and defense sector to discuss topics of internal and external security, inter-agency coordination, and strategic 

communication. The White Paper produced by this workshop was released in March 2015. It outlines a 

strategic vision to achieve sustained levels of security and human development in Guatemala by 2025.

National Security Planning Workshop (NSPW) 

December 2-4, 2014 • La Antigua, Guatemala • 43 Guatemalan participants

This National Security Planning Workshop, also known as the Third Seminar on the Evaluation of the Objectives 

of the Guatemalan Strategic Plan for National Security, was organized by the Technical Secretariat of the 

Republic of Guatemala’s National Security Council. Representatives from many of the institutions that comprise 

the Guatemala’s National Security System participated. Perry Center faculty and staff contributed to the seminar 

in coordination with the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala, working within the framework of cooperation agreements 

between the two countries.

Previous Page, Left: Dr. Salvador Raza (left) leads a panel on 

security and defense in Guatemala with General Luis Cambara, 

Army, Guatemala, (center) and Director Mark S. Wilkins (right) 

during the MSD course.

Previous Page, Right: Dr. Scott Tollefson welcomes MSD 

participants.

Left: Director Mark S. Wilkins, Professor Pat Paterson, and 

Perry Center CTO/CIO Mr. Raul Neine meet with Mr. Brian 

P. McKeon, Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for 

Policy, and Dr. Rebecca Chavez, Deputy Assistant Secretary 

of Defense for Western Hemisphere Affairs, to discuss the 

Center’s governance programs in June 2015.

Left: Mr. Brian P. McKeon, Principal 

Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for 

Policy, and Director Mark S. Wilkins speak 

with MSD course participant Mr. Eduardo 

Hernández Incháustegui of the Dominican 

Republic.

Right: Dr. Luis Bitencourt lectures on 

institutions during the MSD course.

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HEMISPHERIC FORUMS:

The Perry Center’s Hemispheric Forums target the growing community of interest in 

Western Hemisphere affairs. Attended by civilian and military professionals from policy 

offices, academic institutions, and the security and defense sectors, Hemispheric Forums 

address pertinent security issues affecting the Americas. Forums are broadcast live in 

Spanish and English to domestic and international audiences, accompanied by an online 

chatroom that enables viewers to pose questions to panelists in real time alongside 

those in attendance.

Beyond Convergence: A World Without Order

February 10, 2015 • 15 Panelists

A collaborative effort between the National Defense University’s Center for Complex Operations (CCO) 

and the Perry Center, this Hemispheric Forum examined the new domains in which illicit networks 

operate. Panelists discussed the emerging alignments and alliances between networks and international 

blocs hostile to U.S. interests, addressing techniques and strategies to meet these specific twenty-first 

century challenges. The Forum’s four panels included: “Dystopian Futures,” “Emerging Networks and 

Alignments,” “Entropic Enablers,” and “Counter-Strategies.”

The Impact of Energy Developments in the Greater Caribbean Region

March 12, 2015 • 4 Panelists

This Hemispheric Forum examined recent developments in world and regional energy markets in the 

context of the Caribbean Energy Security Summit hosted by Vice President Joe Biden in January 2015, 

where regional leaders shared commitments to transform energy systems and work together in support 

of energy security. Panelists included: Mr. Jorge R. Piñón, Director of the Latin American and Caribbean 

Energy Program, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas; Dr. Frank Mora, Director of the 

Latin American and Caribbean Center and Professor of Politics and International Relations, Florida 

International University; Mr. Robert F. Ichford, Jr, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Energy 

Resources, U.S. Department of State; and Mr. Juan S. Gonzalez, Special Advisor to the Vice President on 

Western Hemisphere Affairs.

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Left: Mr. Michael Miklaucic, Director of 

Research, Information, and Publications for 

Center for Complex Operations, gives opening 

remarks before convening the first panel on 

“Dystopian Futures” during the Hemispheric 

Forum entitled, “Beyond Convergence: A World 

Without Order.”

Right: Panelists debate on stage in Abraham 

Lincoln Hall Auditorium during the Hemispheric 

Forum on “The Impact of Energy Developments 

in the Greater Caribbean Region.”
Corruption in the Western Hemisphere: 

Impediment to Citizen Security and Democratic 

Consolidation

July 15, 2015 • 4 Panelists

This Hemispheric Forum aimed to understand why 

corruption remains so prevalent throughout the Western 

Hemisphere and examined what measures are necessary to 

advance greater citizen security and democratic 

consolidation in the region. Panelists included: Ambassador 

Adam Blackwell, Former Secretary of Multidimensional 

Security, Organization of American States; Ms. Claudia 

Dumas, President & CEO, Transparency International USA; Dr. 

Derrick McKoy, Dean of Law Faculty, University of West 

Indies at Mona; and Dr. Harold Trinkunas, Senior Fellow and 

Director of the Latin America Initiative, The Brookings 

Institution.

Proposed Themes for the Twelfth Conference of 

Defense Ministers of the Americas (CDMA XII)

October 8, 2015 • 4 Panelists

As the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago 

prepares to host the forthcoming Twelfth Conference of 

Defense Ministers of the Americas (CDMA XII) in 2016, this 

Hemispheric Forum offered a space to debate and discuss 

the major focal points of the upcoming conference. Panelists 

included: Mr. Carl Francis, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of 

National Security of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago; 

Brigadier General Anthony Phillips-Spencer, Vice Chief of 

Defence Staff, Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force; Ms. 

Antoinette Lucas-Andrews, Director of the International 

Affairs Unit, Ministry of National Security of the Republic of 

Trinidad and Tobago; and Dr. Luis Bitencourt, Professor, 

Perry Center.

Photos from top to bottom:

Ambassador Adam Blackwell, Former Secretary for Multidimensional Security, 

Organization of American States, speaks as a panelist at the Corruption Forum.

Attendees discuss during the Corruption Forum.

Director Mark S. Wilkins looks on as Dr. Rebecca Chavez, Deputy Assistant 

Secretary of Defense for Western Hemisphere Affairs, meets CDMA XII Forum 

panelist Mr. Carl Francis, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of National Security of 

the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

CDMA XII Forum panelists begin their discussion, moderated by Professor 

Walter Earle.

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The Changing Western Hemisphere

November 18, 2015 • 8 Panelists

Held in partnership with the National Defense University’s 

Center for Complex Operations (CCO) and U.S. Southern 

Command (USSOUTHCOM), this Hemispheric Forum 

coincided with the release of a special edition of the National 

Defense University’s quarterly journal PRISM dedicated to the 

Western Hemisphere. PRISM featured articles from 

prominent leaders throughout the Americas, such as 

Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez and former 

Mexican President Vicente Fox. Forum Panelists included: 

General John Kelly, USMC, Commander, USSOUTHCOM; H.E. 

Juan Carlos Pinzón, Ambassador of the Republic of Colombia 

to the United States; Mr. Douglas Farah, President of IBI 

Consultants and Senior Fellow at the International 

Assessment and Strategy Center; Dr. Vanda Felbab-Brown, 

Senior Fellow, Center for 21st Century Security and 

Intelligence, The Brookings Institution; Dr. Inés Bustillo, 

Director, United Nations Economic Commission for Latin 

America and the Caribbean; and Mr. Brian Fonseca, Director 

of Operations at the Applied Research Center, Florida 

International University.

Security and Defense Challenges Posed by 

Emerging Technologies in the Americas: 

Cybersecurity, Drones (Unmanned Systems), and 

Robotics

October 27, 2015 • 3 Panelists

This Hemispheric Forum sought to address the political and 

strategic challenges posed by emerging technologies, such 

as increasingly sophisticated computers, drones, and 

robotics. Subject matter experts and defense technology 

policymakers debated the implications of these technologies 

and their growing popularity among state and non-state 

actors in the Americas. Panelists included: Major General 

(Ret.) Frederick F. Roggero, USAF, President & CEO of 

Resilient Solutions, Ltd.; Dr. Marty Trevino, Organizational 

Architect and Senior Strategist, National Security Agency; and 

Dr. Boris Saavedra, Assistant Professor, Perry Center.

Photos from top to bottom:

Moderator Professor Celina Realuyo introduces the panelists for the 

Cybersecurity, Drones, and Robotics Forum.

Participants attend the Cybersecurity, Drones, and Robotics Forum.

Panelists General John Kelly, USMC, Commander, USSOUTHCOM, and H.E. Juan 

Carlos Pinzón, Ambassador of the Republic of Colombia to the United States, 

discuss “The Changing Western Hemisphere.”

“The Changing Western Hemisphere” Forum’s second panel begins their 

discussion.

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VIRTUAL LEARNING:

The Perry Center uses various virtual platforms, such as video teleconferencing (VTC), 

Blackboard, and YouTube, to engage with civilian and military personnel from around the 

world. In FY 2015, Perry Center faculty members and other experts utilized these digital 

tools to broadcast discussions and lectures on a variety of theoretical concepts, current 

events, and regional trends relevant to the analysis of security and defense issues in the 

Western Hemisphere.

video teleconferences

broadcasted to 11 countries

Webinar and Dialogue topics included:

• “The ISIS Threat,” Ms. Celina Realuyo, Professor of Practice, Perry Center

• “A Conversation on the Colombian Peace Process,” Dr. Luis Bitencourt, Professor, Perry Center; Mr. 

Diego Aurelio Gantiva Arias, Dean, Universidad Militar Nueva Granada; and Mr. Vicente Torrijos 

Rivera, International Analyst and Professor, Universidad del Rosario

• “The Economy of Defense,” Dr. Boris Saavedra, Assistant Professor, Perry Center

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Top Left: Director Mark S. Wilkins 

and Perry Center personnel conduct 

a virtual meeting with officials at the 

University of Panama in January 2015.

Top Right: Professor Guillermo 

Pacheco speaks with students and 

staff from the Graduate School of 

Higher Strategic Studies (EGAE) in 

the Dominican Republic in November 

2014.

Bottom row: Participants look on as 

Professor Pat Paterson discusses the 

International Criminal Court in a Perry 

Center Webinar with the Catholic 

University of Cordoba in Argentina in 

October 2014.

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RECENT PUBLICATIONS:

Selected Faculty Publications, 2014-2015

RADM (Ret.) Pedro de la Fuente (Argentina)

“Liderazgo en Tiempos de Crisis,” Perspectivas, vol. 1 (March 2014).

Professor Walter Earle

“El futuro de la geopolítica y la geoestrategia: Retos y oportunidades globales y las implicaciones 

para Mexico,” in El área de influencia de Mexico desde una visión geopolítica, p. 467-476 (Distrito 

Federal, Mexico: Secretaria de Marina - Armada de Mexico, Centro de Estudios Superiores Navales, 

2014).

Professor Guillermo A. Pacheco-Gaitán

“Nuevas Pautas en una Democracia: Relaciones Civiles/Político-Militares,” Revista del Ejército de 

Colombia, no. 179 (May 2015).

CDR (Ret.) Patrick J. Paterson (USN)

“The Peru-Chile Maritime Border Decision and Latin America Border Conflicts,” Journal of 

International Affairs, vol. 17, no. 3 (Winter 2014).

“Derechos Humanos y la Lucha Contra Las Organizaciones Criminales Transnacionales: Una 

Estrategia Imprescendible,” Security and Defense Studies Review, vol. 16 (2014). Co-authored with 

Cristy Blain.

“Measuring Success in the War on Drugs,” William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies 

Occasional Paper (July 2014). Co-authored with Katy Robinson.

Professor Celina Realuyo

“The Future Evolution of Transnational Criminal Organizations and the Threat to U.S. National 

Security,” in The Shifting Human Environment: How Trends in Human Geography Will Shape Future 

Military Operations, ed. Paul T. Bartone and Mitchell Armbruster, Defense and Technology Paper, 

no. 107 (Washington, DC: National Defense University Press, May 2015).

The Perry Center publishes original works by faculty, staff, alumni, and international 

colleagues through a variety of print and digital outlets. The Center’s publications include: 

Security and Defense Studies Review, Occasional Papers, and the Perry Paper Series, as well 

as special reports and books.

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“The Future Evolution of Transnational Criminal Organizations and the Threat to U.S. National 

Security,” William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies Occasional Paper (June 2015).

“Finding the Islamic State's Weak Spot," The Journal of International Security Affairs: Hotspots 

and Flashpoints, no. 28 (Spring/Summer 2015).

“Combating Terrorist Financing in the Gulf: Significant Progress but Risks Remain,” published 

online by The Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington (January 2015).

Brig Gen (Ret.) Dr. Boris Saavedra (Venezuela)

“Cybersecurity in Latin America and the Caribbean: The State of Readiness for the Defense of 

Cyberspace,” William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies (July 2015).

“Inteligencia Estratégica En Un Mundo Globalizado En Latinoamérica: Retos Y Desafíos En El 

Siglo XXI,” Revista de Policia y Seguridad Publica, vol. 2 (December 2014).

Dr. Scott Tollefson

“Civil–Military Relations in Brazil: A Reassessment,” Journal of Politics in Latin America, vol. 6, no. 

2 (2014). Co-authored with Thomas Charles Bruneau.

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EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH:

As a part of its commitment to continuing education, the Perry Center’s Educational 

Outreach program supports a variety of formal and informal educational experiences for 

Perry Center alumni after graduation. These events include in-person and virtual seminars, 

workshops, and other collaborative activities designed to engage the alumni community, 

support professional development, build relationships, and foster collaboration. The Perry 

Center’s principal vehicles for these educational outreach programs are its alumni 

associations and communities of practice.

For select graduates, the Perry Center sponsors tailored, professional Communities of Practice, 

which are designed to build on the knowledge gained and the connections made during a 

resident course or seminar. These communities are composed of invited practitioners who 

share a passion for a topic and are committed to collaborative learning and knowledge 

creation through regular interaction. Members benefit by building capacity and expertise, 

cultivating professional networks, and using community resources, ideas, and tools to develop 

best practices.

The Perry Center’s Alumni Associations are professional networks led by dedicated graduates 

who assist with the organization of activities on behalf of their local alumni community. These 

activities provide a space in which alumni can maintain connections made at the Center and 

foster relationships with other security and defense professionals in their area of interest.

Left: Ms. Reny Bake 

of Guatemala and Mr. 

Eddy de Gracia of the 

Dominican Republic meet 

in Guatemala City during 

the 2015 Guatemalan 

presidential elections.

Right: Participants of 

the May 2014 alumni 

association-sponsored 

Strategic Leadership 

Workshop in El Salvador 

collaborate during a 

breakout group session.

ALUMNI ASSOCIATIONS:

COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE:

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FY 2015 ALUMNI

HIGHLIGHTS:

The Perry Center’s Jamaica Alumni Association organized a 

viewing of the Center’s Hemispheric Forum, “The Impact of 

Energy Developments in the Greater Caribbean Region,” on 

March 12, 2015. Fifty-eight participants attended.

On March 15, 2015, the Perry Center’s Paraguay Alumni 

Association Executive Board met with Ambassador Leslie A. 

Bassett and Defense Attaché Colonel Barbara Fick, USA, at 

the United States Embassy in Asunción, Paraguay to discuss 

the goals of the Association and their experience at the Perry 

Center. The Association also signed a cooperation agreement 

with the Universidad Columbia in April and held an 

international symposium on terrorism in June.

Perry Center alumnus and former adjunct professor David 

Granger was elected to serve as the eighth Executive President 

of Guyana on May 11, 2015.

In June 2015, Perry Center alumnus Julio Arriola, former 

Vice-Minister of Administration and Technical Affairs of 

Paraguay’s National Chancellery, was appointed as Ambassador 

of Paraguay to Canada.

Perry Center alumna Delia Davila was elected Supreme Court 

Magistrate in Guatemala in November 2015.

See the Perry Center Alumni Spotlights 2015 publication for 

a complete listing of alumni activities and accomplishments.

Photos from top to bottom:

Event participants gather to view the Perry Center’s Hemispheric Forum on energy 

developments in the greater Caribbean region hosted by the Jamaica Alumni Association.

Participants attend a symposium on “Terrorism and Counterinsurgency” coordinated by 

the Paraguay Alumni Association.

President David Granger of Guyana speaks at the Caribbean Defense and Security Course 

graduation in July 2015.

Ambassador Julio Arriola poses with Paraguay Alumni Association President Oscar Patiño.

Supreme Court Magistrate Delia Davila poses for an official portrait.

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THE PERRY AWARD:

The William J. Perry Award for Excellence in Security and Defense Education is named after 

the former U.S. Secretary of Defense who was responsible for the establishment of the 

William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies. Recipients are chosen for based on 

their substantial dedication to enhancing capacity in security and defense, building mutually 

beneficial relationships, and increasing democratic security in the Americas. Nominees may 

be educators, practitioners, or institutions of defense and security from throughout the 

hemisphere or outside the region.

The Perry Center awarded the 2015 Perry Award to Admiral Vidal Francisco Soberón Sanz, 

Secretary of the Navy of Mexico, and Dr. Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith, one of the world’s leading 

scholars on Caribbean defense and security issues.

Admiral Vidal Francisco Soberón Sanz

As Secretary of the Navy and a member of Mexico’s federal 

executive cabinet with responsibility for overseeing the country’s 

navy and marines, Admiral Soberón has consistently promoted 

education, research, outreach, and knowledge-sharing, and led 

naval institutions that have done the same. Under his command, 

the Mexican Navy has safeguarded the integrity and sovereignty 

of Mexico’s territorial waters while simultaneously promoting a 

cooperative international security environment and fostering 

collaborative relationships with neighboring countries. Also 

under his command, the doctoral program at the Center for 

Superior Naval Studies (CESNAV) has become one of the 

leading defense curricula in the Americas. Admiral Soberón’s 

leadership has done much to strengthen cooperative regional 

partnerships to overcome transnational challenges.

Dr. Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith

Throughout Dr. Ivelaw Griffith’s years of service as a scholar, 

author, and educational leader, his teaching and innovative 

research have informed a generation of policymakers and 

practitioners and have advanced a cooperative international 

security environment among the nations of the Caribbean Basin. 

The selection committee noted Dr. Griffith’s significant and 

tangible work at colleges and universities across the United 

States as Dean, Provost, Senior Vice President, University 

President, and, currently, Senior Fellow at the American 

Association of State Colleges and Universities. His scholarly 

contributions and participation in countless international forums 

have been instrumental in building mutually beneficial 

multilateral relationships and in further increasing democratic 

security in the Caribbean.

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The Perry Center’s internship program is an opportunity for highly motivated undergraduate 

students, graduate students, and recent graduates to gain valuable experience working on 

defense and security issues affecting the Americas. Interns work side-by-side with faculty 

and staff, providing academic and research support to Perry Center publications, courses, 

and events. Additionally, interns participate in a professional development program and 

attend presentations by dynamic speakers from the Perry Center, the National Defense 

University, and the DC policy community. Working in a multicultural and multilingual 

environment, interns regularly interact with civilian and military officials from across the 

Western Hemisphere and around the world. Through their internships, interns refine their 

research, writing, and language skills, while also gaining valuable professional experience in 

the Department of Defense.

“The Perry Center cares about their 

interns. They host professional 

development sessions, coordinate 

educational DC outings, and provide you 

with a learning-conducive environment 

where you grow as a young professional 

and aspiring academic.”

-Intern Kathy Kim, Fall 2015

Top: Perry Center and NDU interns attend a tour of the Pentagon. 

Afterwards, the interns sat down with the Office of the Secretary of 

Defense, Western Hemisphere Affairs, for a discussion on regional 

security and defense.

Bottom: Interns greet General John Kelly, USMC, Commander, 

USSOUTHCOM, before a Perry Center event.

INTERNSHIP PROGRAM:

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FACULTY & STAFF LISTING:

Chief of Staff Mr. Jeffrey Murphy

Protocol Officer Ms. Maria Martinez

Program Specialist Ms. Alicia Torres-Ferrer

Facility & Logistics Manager Mr. Henry Tweddle

Academic Assistant Ms. Kaitlyn Robinson

Resource Manager Mr. Luis Castro

Operations Coordinator Ms. Linda Denning

Operations Coordinator Mr. Christopher Hannigan

Director Mr. Mark S. Wilkins

Executive Assistant to the Director Ms. Maritza Monteverde

Executive Liaison, DSCA to USSOUTHCOM Mr. Steve Meyer

Office of the Director

Strategic Plans & Communications

Management and Administration

Academic Affairs

Chief, Strategic Plans & Communications COL Robert Alvaro

Strategic Program Manager Mr. Michael Mann

Dean, Academic Affairs Dr. Scott Tollefson

Professor Dr. Luis Bitencourt

Diplomat in Residence AMB Adam Blackwell

Professor of Practice RADM (Ret.) Pedro de la Fuente

Visiting Professor Mr. Walter Earle

Professor of Practice Mr. Guillermo Pacheco

Professor of Practice CDR (Ret.) Patrick Paterson (USN)

Professor of Practice Ms. Celina Realuyo

Assistant Professor Brig Gen (Ret.) Dr. Boris Saavedra

Visiting Professor CAPT Camilo Segovia

Associate Professor Dr. David Spencer

Professor, SDIB Program Dr. Salvador Raza

Professor of Practice, Mr. Alejandro Alemán

SDIB Regional Coordinator

Management Analyst Ms. Suzanne Heist

Educational Outreach Coordinator Ms. Kara O’Ryan

Assistant Alumni Coordinator Ms. Molly Albin

Chief, Registrar Mr. Van Beall

Assistant Registrar Ms. Georgina Crovetto

Chief, CTO/CIO Mr. Raul Neine

Webmaster Mr. Nick Foreit

Multimedia Specialist Ms. Vivian Edwards

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24

DR. HOWARD WIARDA 

IN MEMORIAM

With heartfelt sadness, the Perry Center mourns the passing of Dr. Howard Wiarda, who 

passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, September 12, 2015, in Athens, Georgia.

Dr. Wiarda joined the Perry Center in February 2011 as a professor and later served as the 

Deputy Director for Research. He brought to the Center over 50 years of experience as an 

educator and researcher. Dr. Wiarda made many contributions to the Center, and his 

dedication was such that even after he returned to full time work at the University of 

Georgia, he continued to volunteer in support of the Perry Center until his passing. 

The Perry Center is extremely grateful for all of his service, and the thoughts and prayers of 

its faculty and staff are with his family and friends. 

Department Of Defense

Office of the Secretary of Defense

The Pentagon

Washington, DC 20301

www.dod.gov

United States Southern Command

3511 NW 91st Ave.

Miami, FL 33172-1217

www.southcom.mil

Defense Security Cooperation Agency

2800 Defense Pentagon

Washington, DC 20301-2800

www.dsca.mil

National Defense University

Fort Lesley J. McNair

Washington, DC 20319-5066

www.ndu.edu

William J. Perry Center

for Hemispheric Defense Studies (WJPC)

National Defense University

Abraham Lincoln Hall

260 5th Ave. Bldg. 64

Washington, DC 20319-5066

chds.dodlive.mil

United States Northern Command

250 Vandenberg, Suite B016

Peterson AFB, CO 80914-3808

www.northcom.mil

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