Event at the headquarters of the Organization of American States (OAS) marked the conclusion of the Master in Inter-American Defense and Security
The closing ceremony of the Master of Science Course in Inter-American Defense and Security Sciences, at the Inter-American Defense College (IADC), in the United States of America (USA), took place this Friday (06/24). Among the graduates were Airman Colonels James Souza Short and Luciano Fontana Lima, who were part of Class 61, whose classes started in July 2021, gathering 58 civilian and military students from 14 countries of the American continent.
Also participating, among other authorities, were the Permanent Representative of Brazil to the OAS, Ambassador Otávio Brandelli; the Chief of the Brazilian Representation at the IADB (RBJID), Air Major Brigadier Edson Fernando da Costa Guimarães; the Deputy Director of the IADB, Air Brigadier Leonardo Chaves Rodrigues, and the Brazilian Federal Police Attaché, Delegate Rolando Alexandre de Souza.
For Colonel Short, the graduation represents the corollary of a year dedicated to studies in Defense and Security, focused mainly on the Western Hemisphere. “It was rewarding and fruitful to interact with classmates, professionals who are highlights from neighboring countries, and thus share experiences and develop academic work with a broader vision of the region,” said the Officer.
Colonel Fontana highlighted that the master’s degree provided by the CID broadened his horizons about international relations and the inter-American system. “In a diversified manner, through classes, lectures, workshops, conferences, study trips, and visits to prominent international Defense and Security institutions, I had the privilege of expanding knowledge, understanding the complexity of hemispheric issues, and also establishing new professional contacts,” he added.
Located at Fort Lesley J. McNair, U.S. Army Base in Washington DC, the IADC is an international academic institution linked to the Inter-American Defense Board. The College celebrates its sixtieth anniversary this year. Brazil has been there since the first class (Class 1), when the Continental Defense Course was taught. Examples of Brazil’s partnership with the College are the cooperation agreements with the Ministry of Defense’s War College (ESG), and with the Federal Police’s National Police Academy (ANP), signed in March 2021 and June 2022, respectively.
CID Vice Director Brigadier Leonardo cites the strategic importance of the CID for the American continent. “The academic environment is marked by a rich diversity, where you have the vision and voice of the countries of our western hemisphere, represented by civilians and military from various institutions.” And he highlights the recent accreditation earned from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). “It is one of the most prestigious in the United States, which represents a seal of quality for the College, strengthening the planning already started for the future PhD program in Inter-American Defense and Security Sciences,” pointed out the General Officer.
Inter-American Defense College
The mission of the Inter-American Defense College is to prepare military, national police, and civilian officials of the governments of the OAS member states to assume high strategic positions in their governments, through the Postgraduate Program and the Advanced Academic Program in Hemispheric Defense, Security, and related disciplines. Today’s graduation brings the number of graduates from 28 countries to 3,105.
Photos: Petty Officer José Arimatea Costa Sobrinho (FAB) and SSgt Mozer da Cunha (USAF) *** Translated by DEFCONPress Team ***