William J. Perry Center For Hemispheric Defense Studies

08/07/2026

Military interventions in prisons are increasingly shaping security policy across Latin America.
In this edition of Perry Perspective, Dean of Academic Affairs William Godnick examines the challenges and implications of this growing trend.
Read more: https://hubs.la/Q04rtyRq0

07/30/2026

We’re continuing the Perry Perspective—our video series spotlighting faculty insights on the issues shaping our region.

Next up: maritime security with Professor of Practice Eric Driggs. Stay tuned for more.

07/30/2026

The Perry Center welcomed students and faculty from the Naval Command and General Staff Graduate School of the Dominican Republic for an official academic visit focused on strategic education and regional dialogue.

The delegation received an overview of the Perry Center and an introduction to the U.S. National Security Strategy and National Defense Strategy from Dean of Academic Affairs William Godnick, followed by a presentation from Professor of Practice Jeffrey Zinsmeister on the emerging competition between the United States and China to shape international norms in the cyber domain.

Participants engaged in thoughtful discussion and debate on contemporary security challenges, with officers and students from the Dominican Republic joined by international participants from Guatemala and Honduras.

Through visits like this, the Perry Center continues to strengthen regional partnerships and advance professional defense education throughout the hemisphere.

07/29/2026

This month, the Perry Center and Paraguay's Instituto de Altos Estudios Estratégicos (IAEE) co-delivered the National Strategy for Security and Development course, demonstrating the value of institutional partnership and shared responsibility in professional defense education.

Led by Professors Boris Saavedra and Celina Realuyo, with support from Research Associate Sydney Knapp, the program reflected a collaborative effort, with the Perry Center providing academic leadership and IAEE hosting the course while providing administrative and logistical support.

Focused on statecraft, national power, and Artificial Intelligence, the course combined lectures, discussions, and simulations to examine strategic decision-making.

Senior officials from Paraguay's defense and security sector joined as guest speakers, highlighting the importance of interagency coordination.

The engagement also included a keynote by Professor Realuyo and academic presentations at the Universidad Metropolitana de Asunción.

Through collaborative initiatives like this, the Perry Center continues to strengthen partnerships and advance strategic dialogue across the hemisphere.

07/24/2026

We’re launching the Perry Perspective—a new video series spotlighting our faculty's insights on the issues shaping our region.

First up: transnational organized crimes and illicit economies with Professor Celina Realuyo. Stay tuned for more.

07/23/2026

07/17/2026

The Perry Center recently welcomed 53 international fellows from the U.S. Air War College's Master of Arts program during their academic visit to Washington, DC, prior to their engagement with U.S. Southern Command.

Representing partner nations across the Western Hemisphere, the fellows received an overview of the Perry Center's mission and programs, as well as a discussion of the U.S. National Security Strategy and National Defense Strategy led by Dean of Academic Affairs Dr. William Godnick.

Professor Eric Driggs also presented the similarities and differences between the air and maritime domains, highlighting the importance of joint operations, interoperability, and strategic planning in today's evolving security environment.

Through engagements with professional military education institutions, the Perry Center continues to strengthen international partnerships, promote strategic dialogue, and advance civilian-led defense governance across the hemisphere.

07/17/2026

Last month, the Perry Center partnered with Brazil's Escola Superior de Guerra (ESG) to conduct the sixth edition of the course on Politics and Strategies in Response to Complex Threats, a signature defense education initiative developed with ESG.

Bringing together 63 participants, the course examined the complex and evolving security challenges confronting the Western Hemisphere, including transnational threats, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, institutional resilience, and defense governance.

Led by Perry Center faculty Dr. Luis Bitencourt and Jeffrey Zinsmeister, the course reflects a unique model of international defense education built on a solid institutional partnership wherein the curriculum is jointly designed, taught, and evaluated by the Perry Center and ESG, reinforcing shared ownership, professional collaboration, and long-term institutional engagement between the U.S. Department of War and Brazil's Ministry of Defense.

The continued success of the program demonstrates the Perry Center's commitment to advancing strategic alignment with partner nations through collaborative education, institutional capacity building, and enduring professional relationships. As the partnership continues to evolve, it serves as a model for future defense education initiatives that promote regional security cooperation and support shared approaches to addressing complex security challenges across the Americas.

07/15/2026

Last week, Perry Center Director COL John D. Suggs and Associate Director of Security Cooperation Patrick Mathes represented the Center as official observers at the 17th Conference of Defense Ministers of the Americas (CDMA) in Cusco, Peru.

The conference brought together defense leaders from across the hemisphere to advance cooperation on critical security challenges, including transnational organized crime, cybersecurity, humanitarian assistance, maritime security, and the protection of critical infrastructure. The event culminated in the signing of the Cusco Declaration and launched preparations for the 2028 CDMA, which will be hosted by the United States.

During the conference, COL Suggs highlighted the Perry Center's role in advancing civilian-led defense governance through education, outreach, and research while reaffirming the Center's commitment to preparing civilian and military leaders to address evolving regional security challenges.

Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge A. Colby also delivered remarks outlining the Administration's strategic priorities for the Western Hemisphere. Read his remarks below:

English: https://hubs.la/Q04pC7cV0
Español: https://hubs.la/Q04pBL8j0
Português: https://hubs.la/Q04pBKkW0

07/15/2026