PTSS Fosters Connections, More

(Editor’s Note: This entry is provided by Dr. Christopher Harmon, director of GCMC’s Program on Terrorism and Security Studies)

Greetings from Garmisch. 

Our latest counterterrorism course (PTSS 09-7) finished up a few weeks ago, and the 75 participants are all safely back home…in 47 countries.

 The Program on Terrorism and Security Studies has been “going global” lately.  In this past course there were no less than eight participants from Latin America with us, as well as a crowd of Europeans and Central Asians, and individuals from as far away as the Seychelles and Australia. 

Another remarkable feature of the out-going class was its education levels—including two PhDs.  It was routine to talk with seminar members who were comfortable in 3 or 4 languages—just the type of skill that really helps our graduates network internationally. 

PTSS fosters these connections and urges seminar mates to “stay in touch” after graduation.  When trouble arises, having even one solid personal connection in a country of concern can be the perfect starting point for getting some bilateral work done.  Director Rose talks of this often, and in CT it makes all the sense in the world. 

We’re seeing some changes here.  Professional rotations are always a fact of life.  We “lose” our general of French Marines, Jean-Paul Raffenne, who has done fine work in both our Senior Executive Seminar and in PTSS.  He set up our top-level visits to Paris in 2006, 2008, and 2009, which were all highly regarded.  Another gentleman moving on is John Kane, the PTSS Deputy and U.S. Marine who taught and helped so many participants here over recent years.  John has returned to the States and a new Marine Corps post in Quantico Virginia.  In PTSS, we are eager to meet the incoming replacements for these splendid faculty. 

A Press Note:  You’ll be interested to know of a good article written by one of our graduates from 2008.  Student Joe Airey, who works in the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the US, has done a long piece about his educational experience in our counterterrorism program.  The author may be coming back here to teach one day, we hope.  You can find his feature article now on the FBI’s website under their “Publications” in the August Law Enforcement Bulletin.  http://www.fbi.gov/publications/leb/leb.htm 

All for now, and do let us hear from you!

                                    Christopher C. Harmon, Executive Director, PTSS

                                    HarmonC@MarshallCenter.org

GCMC college dean moves to UK law school

GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany — The dean of the college at the George C. Marshall European Center is moving on.

Michael Schmitt, who’s served as dean since the fall of 2008, will leave the College of International and Security Studies in June 2010. He’ll become the chair of public international law at Durham University Law School in the United Kingdom. He made the announcement via email July 15.

A search for his replacement is underway.

“Although this will result in my departure earlier than planned, the opportunity to fill a chair at a top tier law school was too attractive professionally to pass by,” Dean Schmitt said.  “Recruitment for my successor will proceed in due time.  He or she will lead a College that is at the top of its game thanks to your many tireless, and very much appreciated, efforts.”

As head of the college, Dean Schmitt managed five resident programs, the foreign area officer program, and the Partner Language Training Center, Europe.  He oversaw the graduation of about 900 students during his tenure. Schmitt helped pave the foundation for partnerships across the globe through various courses of study offered by the Marshall Center, according to Dr. John Rose, the center director.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for Mike and we wish him the best,” Dr. Rose said. “As the dean, Mike has raised the standard for the Marshall Center and the college. He’ll be a tough act to follow.”

The mission of the Marshall Center is to create a more stable security environment by advancing democratic institutions and relationships, especially in the field of defense; promoting active, peaceful security cooperation; and enhancing enduring partnerships among the nations of North America, Europe and Eurasia.

Staff members from the Marshall Center’s college and Outreach Programs Directorate conduct a variety of unique programs involving 62 countries. Most programs are taught in three languages: English, German and Russian. The college maintains a long-term academic focus while directorate focuses on current issues and problem solving, as well as maintaining contact with more than 60 percent of all Marshall Center alumni.

Class graduates today!

PASS 09-5 graduates today! Ceremony, 5 hours! Also, interview w/ guest speaker, Vice Adm. Wieringa. Bio: http://tinyurl.com/n9y8hg

New American deputy director

GCMC chose its new American deputy director May 28.  Story’s here.

Also, we have a new feature about our PASS class taking a field trip to D.C. to get immersed in the American democratic experience.  That’s here.

EUCOM 2020, Distinguished Alumni conference

We’ll be tweeting and posting from the EUCOM 2020 conference today and tomorrow.  We’ll try to include as many photos as we’re able via Twitter, Facebook and more.  Well also have broader coverage on our Web site, www.marshallcenter.org.  If you’re on Twitter, look for has tag #eucom2020.

Lecture puts renewed focus on Dachau, Holocaust

by Jason Tudor
George C. Marshall European Center
for Security Studies Public Affairs

GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany — Lessons learned about the Holocaust and the extermination of 13 million people gained renewed focus for students from 45 countries during a lecture at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies.

Given as part of the Program for Advanced Security Studies syllabus, this session’s lecture coincided with National Remembrance Week and Holocaust Memorial Day.  Students also toured the site of the Dachau concentration camp April 22, about an hour from the Marshall Center.  The lecture is part of an instruction block about human rights and human law.

During his one-hour presentation, Dr. Marc Stegherr, assistant professor from Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich, described the beginning and end of the Third Reich, as well its after effects on Germany, some unexpected.  He said Dachau’s creation in March 1934 stood as one of the Reich’s first milestones.

The camp, Dr. Stegherr said, served as a camp for SS guards to staff extermination camps.  Dachau also served as a laboratory to carry out experiments. 

“It was basically a murder school,” he said. “The principles taught there were handed down from one generation to the next.”

General: Building partnerships key to success in Europe, beyond

GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany -- General Carter Ham, commander of US Army Europe and 7th Army, talks to about 150 students at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies April 15. The general talked about building partnerships, the situation in Afghanistan and much more during a 45 minute speech followed by a question-and-answer period. The students are part of the Marshall Center’s Program for Advanced Security Studies. (DOD Photo by Jason Tudor)

By Jason Tudor
GCMC Public Affairs

 

GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany – Rare will be the occasion when the U.S. military will operate by itself and instead will rely on partnerships with other nations going forward, said the US Army in Europe’s top officer.

Calling any circumstance where the US takes action unilaterally “highly unusual,” Gen. Carter Ham, commander of US Army Europe and 7th Army spoke to about 150 students of the Program in Advanced Security Studies April 15 at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies.

“Building partner capacities” is one of the tenants of how the Army operates in Europe and beyond going forward, the general said, talking about operations and conditions across the theater.

Currently, the US operates with 41 countries in Afghanistan, 32 countries in Kosovo and 25 in Bosnia. 

“We will go forward with our allies and partners, developing common tactics, procedures and policies,” General Ham said. “We do it because we cannot conduct operations as a single nation any longer.”

Top Italian general speaks about Afghanistan, NATO, earthquake

By Jason Tudor
GCMC Public Affairs

GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany — The military leader of Italy’s armed forces said a “comprehensive approach” to regional stability and military planning is both historical and prudent to a continued peace.

Italian Gen. Vicenzo Camporini, chief of the Italian defense general staff, gave a speech at the George C Marshall European Center for Security Studies in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, April 8.  He spoke to about 100 students from various European and Eurasian nations attending the Program in Advanced Security Studies.

The Marshall Center is one of five regional centers for security studies belonging to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, based in Washington, D.C.

General Camporini interview complete

Working to get story, photo and audio online for you.  Some highlights:

– The general said Italy has committed 3,000 troops to help with the Earthquake relief effort.  This covers search and rescue, and other crucial areas.

– He talked about why NATO is still vital to world peace and the role is continues to play in European stability.

– He previewed his message to our PASS class, discussing what he hopes the students will derive from his speech.

More soon.

Interview with Italian general

General Vincenzo Camporini, chief of Italian Defense General Staff, is visiting GCMC tomorrow.  He’ll be speaking to our Program in Advanced Security Studies program.  We’ll be interviewing him just before he speaks.  We’ll be asking about why speaking to the PASS class is important, the points he hopes to drive him as well if he or his forces are involved with the aftermath of the Earthquake in his country.

We’ll post the full story here.