In a WHINSEC tradition, visitors are met in front of the headquarters and are introduced to the leadership and staff. Here, BG Vicente Mota, Secretary General of the Conference of American Armies (CAA), meets the Institute's International Command Sergeant Major William Villacorta of Peru while WHINSEC's Deputy Commandant for Law Enforcement, COL Walter Navarro, salutes COL Juan Medina, Executive Secretary of the CAA. BG Mota took a few hours to get to know the Institute and to tell the Command & General Staff Officer Course students about the CAA before visiting other units on Fort Benning.

Peruvian Rear Admiral Roberto S. Jimenez Torreblanca addresses the students graduating from the Small Unit Leader Course, the Interagency Crisis Action Planning Course, and the Cadet Leadership Development Course--252 in all, representing 10 countries--at the Columbus Convention & Trade Center Thur, Aug 23. Admiral Jimenez gave the students inspirational words and later visited WHINSEC to learn how its courses may benefit his service, the Peruvian Navy. He is the Director of Peru's Naval Academy. (photo by Lee Rials)

Costa Rica's Director of National Police, COL Daniel Calderon (left) discusses his objectives in visiting WHINSEC with COL Robert Alvaro, WHINSEC Commandant. Calderon led a delegation of senior security personnel from Costa Rica to review courses at the Institute which may be useful to the services represented. The delegation got a detailed view of WHINSEC, visited its training areas, and also MCoE's Clarke Simulation Center.

MG John F. King, Commanding General of Task Force 51, a deployable command post designated to assist local, state and federal responders with disasters in the United States, was the speaker for WHINSEC's Combined Graduation, Thur, Apr 26, at the Columbus Convention & Trade Center. He is also a former Deputy CG of the Maneuver Center of Excellence, where he came to know about WHINSEC. In addition to his inspirational words to the 76 students of the Master Enlisted Leadership Professional Development Course, the Interagency Crisis Action Planning Course, the International Operational Law Course or the Countering Transnational Threats Course, he took the time to speak to WLTZ, Ch 38, and to an interviewer from WHINSEC, speaking of the importance not only of the training but of the relationship-building that allows for better cooperation among forces from different nations (nine nations were represented in the courses graduating).

Local Police Chief has International Influence

LaGrange Police Chief Louis Dekmar protects and serves a small Georgia city, but he has world-wide connections and influence as President of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. The IACP has been around since 1893, has 30,000 members in 150 countries, and is active in seeking new venues of service. Chief Dekmar came to WHINSEC and Fort Benning to become acquainted with what WHINSEC has to offer to law enforcement agencies from the Americas. In addition to seeing the Institute, Chief Dekmar was given a detailed tour of MCoE's Clarke Simulation Center. His productive visit identified opportunities for cooperation between WHINSEC and the IACP.

U.S. Marine Corps BGen Julian D. Alford, Commanding General, Marine Corps Installations-East at Camp LeJeune, NC, describes Naval and Marine Corps concepts of future Expeditionary Advance Base Operations (EABO) to WHINSEC’s Command & General Staff Officer Course students and faculty. BGen Alford discussed the adaptability of U.S. Naval forces (including the Marines) to current amphibious operations and trends in modern warfare affecting naval operations. The 56 students representing nine countries in the CGSOC Class of 2017-2018 enhance their experiences with guest speakers such as BGen Alford. The class graduates May 23.

Ambassador Liliana Ayalde, Civilian Deputy and Foreign Policy Advisor to the SOUTHCOM Commander, participated in WHINSEC's Women, Peace and Security Panel Discussion at the Institute Mon, Mar 12, then remained to learn about WHINSEC and to talk directly with the students in the Command & General Staff Officer and Joint Interagency Operations Courses. As an expert in the Americas, her credentials are impeccable. She served in the State Department for 34 years, including Ambassadorships in Paraguay and Brazil.

Canadian Army LTC Krista Bouckaert responds to a question from the WHINSEC students attending the Women, Peace and Security Panel Discussion Mon, Mar 12, at the Institute. Joining her on the panel were (l) Stephenie Foster, a Partner in Smash Strategies and a former State Department official, and Dr. Claudia Veras, an Instructor in the Staff and Faculty Development Division of WHINSEC. The discussion is the third annual event fulfilling the Institute's responsibilities in the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, a worldwide effort to promote the inclusion of women in all aspects of economic and social development, particularly their involvement in conflict resolution, peace negotiations and leadership positions.