Chartered on April 23, 2019, DSCU now joins the ranks of other Defense Universities, and will promote security cooperation as a unique discipline with its own political, economic, and diplomatic dimensions.

The professionalism of the security cooperation workforce is unquestioned, however until now we have not had a centralized process to develop the formal competencies, curriculum, and credentials necessary to demonstrate that professionalism beyond our community. Going forward, DSCU will be responsible for providing all education and training associated with the Security Cooperation Workforce Certification Program. Complementing the certification program will be DSCU’s Executive Education program. Through the executive training programs conducted at DSCU, our current and future leaders will gain a deeper understanding of the important role security cooperation plays in advancing U.S. foreign policy and national security interests.

DSCU will maintain responsibility for excellence in security cooperation education through both subsidiary and networked relationships with other security cooperation educational entities. It will incorporate the Defense Institute of Security Cooperation Studies in Dayton, Ohio and all training for the Ministry of Defense Advisors program. In an effort to further security cooperation knowledge and practice we are also building a network of partners. These include the Defense Acquisition University, the Defense Intelligence Agency's Joint Military Attaché School, the Naval Post Graduate School, the George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs, our Service War Colleges, DSCA's Institute for Security Governance, as well as its Centers for Regional Security Studies, and the Defense Institute of International Legal Studies.

DSCU hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 25, 2019, and will offer courses required for basic certification level of the Security Cooperation Workforce Certification Program starting on October 1, 2019. Over the coming months and years, DSCU will share best practices in security cooperation educational instruction across the academic community, and will establish itself as the central repository for security cooperation history and lessons learned, while offering the full complement of courses in support of the Security Cooperation Workforce Certification Program.

Our DSCU team is committed to contributing to a broader security cooperation mission that supports the National Security and National Defense Strategies, and advances U.S. foreign policy objectives. The DSCU faculty and staff are dedicated to providing our workforce with the knowledge and training necessary to excel in this mission.

I very much look forward to meeting with our students and stakeholders to discuss experiences and ideas in the months to come.

(Current as of September 2019)