The Defense Security Cooperation University and the Irregular Warfare Center To Host University Days Event

The Defense Security Cooperation University’s (DSCU) newly established Irregular Warfare Center (IWC) is scheduled to host its fourth Irregular Warfare (IW)-themed event, University Days, April 25-26, 2023, at the DSCU’s Arlington, Va. Campus.

The purpose of University Days is to provide an opportunity for academic institutions to learn more about the Center’s programs and initiatives and meet DSCU and IWC leadership to directly discuss future partnerships, research, publishing and grant opportunities.

“DSCU strives to be the center of intellectual life for the Security Cooperation enterprise, which includes collaboration with other academic institutions,” said Dr. Celeste Gventer, DSCU President. “We see advancing and developing the Department of Defense’s (DoD) IW expertise, as well as that of our Partners and Allies, as a key contribution we can make.”

The 2-day event will include a variety of briefs led by IWC and DSCU leadership and irregular warfare subject matter experts, breakout meetings, panel discussions with question-and-answer sessions, as well as networking opportunities throughout the day.

Attending educational institutions include: University of Michigan, University of Maryland, Texas A&M, University of Central Florida, Institute of World Politics, Georgetown University, American University, Penn State University, Arizona State University, Regent University, Michigan State University, University of Virginia, The Citadel, University of Alabama-Birmingham, Seton Hall University, Purdue University, West Virginia University, Special Forces Warrant Officer Institute, Air University, Naval War College, John F Kennedy Special Warfare Center & School, Joint Special Operations University, Marine Corps University, Army War College, Naval Post Graduate School, SAMS, Command and General Staff College, U.S. Air Force School of Advanced Air and Space, National Defense University and Army-IMCOM.

“We intend to leverage the IWC’s unique authorities to harness the broad and creative intellectual abilities already resident in universities across the United States, and use these abilities to improve our whole-of-government responses to irregular challenges,” said Dr. Dennis Walters, IWC Acting Director. “Additionally, the IWC will act as a bridge between U.S. universities and the vast network of IW professionals across more than 100 countries to truly build an unmatched, global IW network.”

The 2022 National Defense Authorization Act directed the Secretary of Defense to establish the IWC with the authorities to reach out and create partnerships and collaborations with civilian institutions of higher learning to ensure the Center fully addressed strategic competition below the threshold of armed conflict.

University Days directly contributes to the successful execution of the IWC`s task prescribed in the FY23 NDAA to engage and coordinate with Federal departments and agencies and with academia, non-governmental organizations, civil society, and international partners to discuss and coordinate efforts on irregular warfare education.

The IWC recently hosted several informative and educational irregular warfare-themed events including its inaugural event, The IW Medical Resiliency Workgroup (Feb. 2022), IWC International IW Week (March 2023) and IWC IW Seminar at Georgetown University (March 2023).

The IWC serves as the central mechanism for developing the DoD’s irregular warfare knowledge and advancing the Department’s understanding of irregular warfare concepts and doctrine in collaboration with key allies and partners.

The IWC serves as the central mechanism for developing the Department of Defense’s (DoD) irregular warfare knowledge and advancing the Department’s understanding of irregular warfare concepts and doctrine in collaboration with key allies and partners.

The Center’s foundation is built upon three Lines of Effort:

• AMPLIFY and collaborate to build an innovative and adaptable global networked IW community of interest.
• Strategically ILLUMINATE current and future irregular threats, crises, and obstacles.
• ADDRESS current and future irregular threats to the US, allies, and partners by providing optionality to leaders.

Through these LOEs, the Irregular Warfare Center addresses current and emerging security concerns and challenges with world-class research, rigorous analysis, top-tier strategic education and training for U.S. and international partners.