Jump to navigation

George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies Home

George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies

  • Log in with CAC
Log in with CAC
Forgot Password?
  • Home
  • Library
  • George C. Marshall European Center for Security...
  • Counternarcotics, Global Threats Official Advis...

Counternarcotics, Global Threats Official Advises Security Professionals on CTOC Strategy

Print Share Download PDF
0 comments

Counternarcotics, Global Threats Official Advises Security Professionals on CTOC Strategy

DASD Alexander
GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany – Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Counternarcotics and Global Threats Thomas Alexander addresses 104 security professional participants from 53 nations as the graduation speaker for the Program on Countering Transnational Organized Crime at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies here Aug. 2. (DOD photo by Karl-Heinz Wedhorn/RELEASED)
From GCMC | by Christine June | 05 Aug 2019

By Emma Bareihs
Public Affairs Office
George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies

GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany – It is essential to create a strategic plan before attempting to tackle a problem like transnational organized crime, said the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Counternarcotics and Global Threats Thomas Alexander at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies during the Program on Countering Transnational Organized Crime here Aug. 2.

“We must identify the problem, work together to identify a solution and a strategy and then work together to go after it,” he said. “It’s a global threat and by definition it’s going to require all of us to solve the problem so we need to work together to identify what we can do to solve it.

Alexander addressed 104 security professional participants from 53 nations as the graduation speaker for CTOC 19-15 on Aug. 1. This is Alexander’s third time speaking at a CTOC graduation. He previously spoke to CTOC graduates in Aug. 2018 and March 2019.

“When you leave here, I want you to keep the core elements of strategy development at the forefront of your minds, particularly as you think about how to fight transnational organized crime,” Alexander said during his graduation remarks.

Program Director for CTOC 19-15 Joe Vann said strategy development was a strong focus of the program.

“The focus of the CTOC program is on strategy development to enable government professionals to be more effective in countering the activity of transnational criminal organizations,” Vann said. 

Participants took part in lectures, case studies and seminar discussions about the activities of drug cartels, terrorists and transnational criminal organizations in order to understand the necessary strategic level approaches to combating these threats.

“I think the faculty and staff are doing a great job here. They’re doing exactly as I and my predecessors envisioned for what the CTOC course should be. I support it 100 percent,” Alexander said.

Alexander hopes graduates can move forward with the partnerships they have established over the course to combat transnational organized crime. He said the best way to get at the problem is build relationships.

“I’ve gotten to see the sense of camaraderie you’ve established, and how that positive energy has driven your approaches to mapping, tracking and attacking these illicit networks,” Alexander said to the participants on the course’s last day.

“We face a complex challenge that won’t be resolved overnight. We inherited this fight, and we’ll be in it for a while. But in an era of interconnectedness, we know that the stronger our network is, the better postured we will be to disrupt those of criminals and terrorists,” he concluded.

Human Trafficking / Smuggling, Illicit Trafficking, Mentoring, Policy, Public Corruption, Transnational Criminal Threats and Trends
See all tags »

Associated Files

Related Stories

CTOC 19-06 Graduation
Anti-Corruption
Marshall Center Educates Security Professionals to Counter International Illicit Threat Networks
CTOC Guest Speaker
Human Trafficking / Smuggling
Treasury Official Discusses U.S. Strategy to Fight Criminal Threats to Global Financial System
See all related stories »
 

About GCMC

The Marshall Center Members Portal, GlobalNet, is a password protected web portal that can be accessed via the Internet throughout the world. It allows Marshall Center alumni, staff and partners to maintain contact with one another, share their most recent career and contact information, post stories and discuss current events in academic discussion groups, as well as download newsletters and various academic materials presented at the Marshall Center or during the Center's numerous Outreach Events.

Find us on Social Media

Footer: About GlobalNET

GlobalNET represents a network of organizations and their representative members who are working to foster national and international collaboration as well as to maintain relationships, and strengthen partner capacity.

Footer: GlobalNET Main Links

  • About GlobalNET
  • Contact GlobalNET
  • GlobalNET Partners

Footer: GlobalNET Partner

These are the GlobalNET partners

GlobalNET Support

  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Help Desk
  • How to use GlobalNET
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use