Overcoming the U.S. Bureaucracy for Sustainable Partnership Outcomes

Conference Title: 2024 Security Cooperation Conference: Building Lasting Partnerships: What Have We Learned?
October 2024

Conference Abstract:
The third annual Security Cooperation (SC) Conference, organized by the Defense Security Cooperation University (DSCU), aims to address the pressing need to deepen alliances and partnerships to support better security cooperation outcomes. The 2024 SC Conference will focus on working effectively and sustainably with allies and partners.

Building on discussions of challenges and complexities in security cooperation from the past two annual conferences, the 2024 SC Conference will showcase the utility of informing practice with evidence-based knowledge, and vice versa. The conference will last from October 28 to 30, with a preconference reception on the evening of October 27. The 2024 SC Conference aims to bring together professionals who conduct research informing security cooperation practice and those engaged in the reflective practice of Security Cooperation. These professionals hail from various sectors, such as government, military, and private industry, to address how to work more effectively and sustainably with allies and partners. The audience includes implementers, planners, policymakers, and scholars who contribute to building lasting partnerships and collaborating with allies and partners to address global security challenges.

Panel Session 9: Implementation Focus
9D: Overcoming the U.S. Bureaucracy for Sustainable Partnership Outcomes

Panel Abstract:
Addressing security challenges in a timely manner, and with the right funding mechanisms and resources, often requires complex coordination across U.S. implementing agencies. This is especially true when dealing with hybrid, irregular, or gray-zone threats. Panelists will discuss cases where poor collaboration hampered security cooperation efforts, or where funding mechanisms or authorities prevented a timely response, as well as a tool that offers a more holistic, partner-centric approach to coordination, centered on the political and economic drivers of insecurity.

Chair: Dr. Tova Norlén (Defense Security Cooperation University)

• Ms. Tammy Palacios (New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy)Interagency Coordination and Security Cooperation Informed by Civilian Engagement Security Strategies of Bad Actors: Al-Qaeda Affiliate JNIM in the Sahel

• Dr. Greg Roberts (U.S. Department of State)– Country Security Sector Assistance Assessments: Toward a Common Approach

• COLKevinMurphy(NewJersey National Guard)– The State Partnership Program: Evolving Authorities and Funding to Meet Emerging Global Challenges

• Ms. Aneliese Bernard (Strategic Stabilization Advisors)– Synergizing Security Cooperation with Other U.S. Government Activities to Strengthen Overall Strategy