HONOLULU – One hundred nine senior military and civilian government leaders from 32 locations graduated today from the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies “Executive Course: Advanced Security Cooperation.”

Attending the regional security course were participants from: Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Micronesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, United States, Vanuatu, and Vietnam.

The five-week Executive Course focus is on building relationships among mid-career leaders and decision makers within the region. Its curriculum emphasizes the non-war fighting aspects of security and international relations, and challenges Fellows to develop regional and transnational perspectives. Security is examined as a comprehensive mix of political, economic, social, military, diplomatic, information and ecological dimensions.

At the conclusion of this class, fellows presented APCSS with a Declaration of Amity and Cooperation, formalizing their commitment to adhere to the principles of security cooperation. Course Manager, Kerry Lynn Nankivell observed that “[t]his class is an enthusiastic group of professionals, whose coursework and personal fellowship will leave us all in good stead as our region moves into a new and exciting century.”

The Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies is a Department of Defense academic institute that addresses regional and global security issues. Military and civilian representatives, most from the U.S. and Asia-Pacific nations, participate in a comprehensive program of executive education, professional exchanges and outreach events, both in Hawaii and throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The Center supports the U.S. Pacific Command by developing and sustaining relationships among security practitioners and national security establishments throughout the region. APCSS’ mission is to build capacities and communities of interest by educating, connecting, and empowering security practitioners to advance Asia-Pacific security. It is one of the Department of Defense’s five regional security studies centers.

Since opening in 1995, APCSS has had participants from 104 countries and territories, and four international organizations attend courses at the Center for a total of 7,966 alumni.