On July 8, Perry Center Director Dr. Paul Angelo welcomed 60 participants from 19 countries for the resident phase of two courses: “Strategic Implications of Human Rights and Rule of Law” and “Cyber Policy Development and Artificial Intelligence Applications for Defense.” Dr. Angelo was joined by Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Western Hemisphere Ana Janaina Nelson, who provided opening remarks. “Through frank and collaborative dialogue,” she said, “we can reinforce strong and transparent norms that will apply across military domains to safeguard our national interests and hemispheric stability.”

CSIS Senior Associate and 2015 Perry Award recipient Dr. Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith closed out the first day of the two-week resident phase with a keynote presentation on human rights and rule of law dynamics in the Caribbean. For the first time, the human rights course is being taught in residence in English with a focus on the English-speaking Caribbean – a result of increased interest expressed at last year’s Caribbean Nations Security Conference in Jamaica.

The 2024 cyber course has evolved to address the strategic implications of AI and its applications for the security and defense sector. It supports the US Department of Defense’s Cyber Strategy, which seeks to improve effectiveness and security in cyberspace by fostering a community of cyber-capable nations with shared interests and values.

Each group will engage with more than 20 experts and officials during their time in Washington, DC.