APCSS Director, retired Army Lt. Gen. Ed Smith, recently completed a trip to Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand.  The trip focused on marketing current Honolulu-based and future Outreach program opportunities in each country, as well as discussions about course development and recruitment. It was also a chance for Lt. Gen. Smith the meet up with a number of APCSS Alumni.

The first stop was Indonesia where Lt. Gen. Smith inaugurated the Indonesia APCSS Alumni Association (IAAA).  Both the U.S. Embassy’s Deputy Chief Mission and Defense Attaché participated in the ceremony, attended by more than 40 alumni. Lt. Gen. Smith identified potential APCSS Outreach support in the form of support to the Jakarta Center for Law Enforcement Cooperation, as well as conducting a future workshop addressing Humanities Assistance/Disaster Relief management systems.

In Australia, Smith spoke with members of the Kokoda Foundation hosted by the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies, and also addressed a class in session.  The Director met with APCSS alumni at the home of the U.S. Embassy’s Army Attaché who is also an APCSS alumnus.

While in New Zealand, he followed up on possible outreach opportunities specifically addressing the Oceania sub-region.  In fact, APCSS is now working with the Office of the New Zealand Foreign Secretary to identify suitable topics related to priority security and security cooperation issues among Pacific Island national today and ahead.   Smith also met with a number of alumni and key government representatives, including the Chief of Defence and the Deputy Foreign Secretary.

Finding ways to include representatives of Non-Governmental Organizations, business leaders, and international media organizations in APCSS in-resident and outreach programs was another topic of discussion in each country visited.  APCSS is now authorized to invite these representatives to courses as self-funded Fellows.  Those interested in attending should apply via the host-nation U.S. Embassy or contact the APCSS Registrar at RegistrarBranch@apcss.org for more information.