Institute for Security Governance

What Institute for Security Governance does

The Institute for Security Governance (ISG) is a component of the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) operating within the Defense Security Cooperation University (DSCU), and functions as the Department of Defense's primary implementer of Institutional Capacity Building (ICB) and one of its lead international security cooperation schoolhouses. ISG delivers tailored advising, education, and professional development programs to foreign military and civilian officials across partner nations, with the stated objective of building partner capacity to plan, develop, resource, acquire, staff, employ, and sustain defense capabilities of mutual benefit to the United States and its allies.

ISG's program portfolio is organized across eight functional practice groups: Security Governance and Civil-Military Relations; Conflict, Terrorism, and Protection; Maritime Security; Emergency Management and Resilience; Peacekeeping and Exercises; Cyber Capability; International Defense Acquisition Resource Management; and Logistics Capability Building. Programs are delivered through four modalities — Resident courses (2-4 week multilateral courses at ISG's Monterey, California headquarters, capped at 30 students), Regional courses (1-2 week multilateral courses hosted by partner nations), Mobile Education Teams or METs (1-2 week bilateral courses in partner countries), and Virtual/Hybrid courses (3-5 day synchronous or blended formats). Adjacent offerings include Non-Resident Advising, embedded Ministry of Defense Advisors (MoDA), the Philippines Security Sector Assistance Roadmap, and the ICB Smart Sheets publication series. The Institute is headquartered in Monterey, California (co-located with the Naval Postgraduate School) and operates under the oversight of DSCU in Washington, D.C.

ISG is a U.S. government entity funded entirely through Congressional security cooperation appropriations. It charges no tuition or fees to foreign participants. Customer engagements are government-to-government, exemplified by named programs with Ukraine (MoDA embedded advising), the Philippines (P-SSAR five-year bilateral action plan), Colombia (Women, Peace, and Security), Sri Lanka (defense strategy and force modernization), Jordan (Maritime Domain Awareness for the Royal Jordanian Navy), Brazil (CGPD integration into Escola Superior de Defesa), and The Gambia (Executive Program in Defense Decision-Making). FY2023 scale metrics include 1,285 participants trained across 58 countries through 17 courses, and the Institute has received four Secretary of Defense Maintenance Awards recognizing sustained excellence in capacity building.

Name

Institute for Security Governance

Legal name

Institute for Security Governance

Website

https://instituteforsecuritygovernance.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Institute for Security Governance is a U.S. Department of Defense institution (within DSCA/DSCU) that delivers Institutional Capacity Building education, advising, and training programs to allied and partner-nation defense ministries, militaries, and civilian security officials across more than 58 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defense Education and Security Cooperation Training

NAICS

National Security and International Affairs (9281), National Security (928110), International Affairs (92812)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Security Sector Reform (SSR) & Defense Institution Building (BPADAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Maritime/Port Facility Security (ISPS) Training (BPAKAOAL), Emergency Management & Incident Command (EOC/ICS) (EDALAEAD), Security Training & Compliance (Guard Training, SOPs, Drills) (BPABAMAN)

Keywords

• Security cooperation training
• Defense professional education
• Institutional capacity building
• Military advisory services
• Civil-military relations

Headquarters

HQ city

Monterey

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. U.S. Government Appropriated Funding: ISG is a component of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) within the Defense Security Cooperation University (DSCU), operating as part of the U.S. Department of Defense. As a government institution, ISG is funded through Congressional appropriations for security cooperation activities and does not generate commercial revenue.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Institute for Security Governance (ISG) is a U.S. Department of Defense educational institution that delivers Institutional Capacity Building (ICB) services to allied and partner nations. Its core offering consists of tailored defense education courses, executive programs, and embedded advisory engagements (Resident, Mobile Education Teams, Regional, and Virtual/Hybrid formats) covering eight functional practice groups such as Security Governance, Civil-Military Relations, Maritime Security, Defense Acquisition, Cyber Capability, Peacekeeping, and Logistics. All programs are delivered at no cost to foreign participants under U.S. government security cooperation funding.

Product overview

The Institute for Security Governance (ISG) is a component of Defense Security Cooperation University (DSCU), providing educational programs and institutional capacity building services for partner nations. ISG operates as a unified educational institution offering four modes of program delivery: Resident Education (multilateral courses at Monterey headquarters), Mobile Education Teams (bilateral courses in partner countries), Regional Education (multilateral courses at regional hosts), and Virtual/Hybrid Education (synchronous online formats). The institution organizes its offerings across eight functional practice groups: Security Governance and Civil-Military Relations, Conflict/Terrorism/Protection, Maritime Security, Emergency Management and Resilience, Peacekeeping and Exercises, Cyber Capability, International Defense Acquisition Resource Management, and Logistics Capability Building. Additional offerings include Non-Resident Advising programs, Resident Advisor (MoDA) embedded advising, ICB Smart Sheets publications, and specific country initiatives like the Philippines Security Sector Assistance Roadmap. ISG is not a software product company but rather a defense education and advisory institution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Resident Education 2-4 week multilateral courses conducted at ISG headquarters in Monterey, California, featuring lectures, breakout groups, interactive exercises, and student-led presentations in adult-learning format for up to 30 students from partner nations.
• Mobile Education Teams (MET) Bilateral 1-2 week courses conducted in partner countries by ISG Mobile Education Teams, tailored to national and regional contexts with varying participant composition.
• Regional Education 1-2 week multilateral courses hosted by partner nations, where one partner serves as host to ISG instructional team and students from other countries, tailored to the regional context.
• Virtual/Hybrid Education Synchronous or combination synchronous/asynchronous format courses typically 3-5 days in duration, conducted bilaterally or multilaterally and tailored to country or regional context; hybrid courses include at least one in-person instructional team member.
• Non-Resident Advising ISG's primary tool for fostering long-term Security Cooperation relationships, supporting development of bilateral military capability priorities and fulfilling Congressional-mandated Institutional Capacity Building requirements.
• Ministry of Defense Advisors (MoDA) Resident Advisor Program Resident Advisors providing critical subject matter expertise at executive level within partner Ministries of Defense, identifying institutional challenges and facilitating problem-solving toward enduring solutions that build defense institutional capacity.
• Security Governance and Civil-Military Relations (CMR) Program Courses, seminars, and workshops addressing all aspects of the relationship between elected civilians and security institutions in democratic contexts, focusing on institutionalizing effective civil-military relations.
• Conflict, Terrorism, and Protection (CTP) Program Expertise on causes and triggers of conflict and full-spectrum conflict management from prevention to warfare, conflict resolution, societal recovery, ethnic/religious identity conflict, combating terrorism, and humanitarian issues.
• Maritime Security (MARSEC) Program Tools to prevent and respond to maritime security threats including transnational maritime threats, civil-military-law enforcement agency integration, and leveraging international resources.
• Emergency Management and Resilience (EM&R) Program Comprehensive whole-of-government courses for all-hazards emergency preparedness, resilience, and response, enhancing civil-military cooperation.
• Peacekeeping and Exercises (PKX) Program Builds sustainable peacekeeping training capacities in partner countries supporting UN and regional peacekeeping operations, focusing on military troops and formed police units.
• Cyber Capability (CYBER) Program Builds partner cyber capacity and capability through policies and practices, examining barriers to effective policy development and methods for cyber defense response.
• International Defense Acquisition Resource Management (IDARM) Program Strengthens defense acquisition decision-making through courses focused on defense acquisition, contract management and negotiations, and defense project management.
• Logistics Capability Building (LCB) Program Works with participants to increase professionalization of logistics forces through activities supporting logistics requirements assessment and implementation.
• Philippines - Security Sector Assistance Roadmap (P-SSAR) Five-year bilateral action plan designed and implemented by ISG through Action Officer Working Groups to enhance Philippines defense capabilities and interoperability with U.S. forces.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,285 participants from 58 countries trained in FY2023 through 17 courses
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISG is a component of DSCA, charged with building partner institutional capacity and capability through tailored advising, education, and professional development programs. DSCA manages and executes ICB initiatives as part of U.S. security cooperation efforts.
• Defense Security Cooperation University (DSCU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISG is a component of DSCU, which provides the academic framework and institutional oversight for ISG's education and training programs. DSCU includes multiple schools including ISG, Defense Institute of International Legal Studies, and Defense Resources Management Institute.
• Naval Postgraduate School (NPS)coreTechnology or IntegrationISG headquarters shares a campus with Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. ISG resides on secure US government property owned and operated by NPS, requiring coordinated access and facility management.
• U.S. Embassy - Kyiv Office of Defense CooperationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with U.S. Embassy Kyiv's Office of Defense Cooperation on Ukraine resilience workshop supporting Ukraine's national resilience agenda.
• Sweden's Civil Contingency AgencymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partner in Ukraine resilience workshop, contributing expert exchanges alongside ISG and U.S. Embassy representatives.
• Ukraine's Government Office for Coordination of European and Euro-Atlantic IntegrationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in resilience workshop supporting Ukraine's national resilience agenda, working with ISG experts and international allies.
• U.S. Southern CommandmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost of 3rd Annual Space Conference of the Americas where ISG experts presented on Institutional Capacity Building for space domain partnerships.
• European Union Training Mission - Somalia (EUTM-S)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerISG Africa Regional Advising Team worked with EUTM-S Mission Force Commander and Head of Advisory Team in Mogadishu to address capacity building efforts for Somali Ministry of Defense.
• U.S. Embassy - YerevanmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with U.S. Embassy Yerevan and Armenian Ministry of Defense to host defense transformation workshop in Yerevan, initiating multi-year collaborative effort.
• Naval Postgraduate SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with NPS as partner in Armenia defense transformation workshop effort.
• Kansas National GuardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Armenia defense transformation workshop alongside ISG, U.S. Embassy, and other collaborators.
• 4th Security Forces Assistance BrigademinorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Armenia defense transformation workshop effort.
• Escola Superior de Defesa (ESD) - BrazilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerISG supported ESD's 2023 mandate to incorporate Defense Management and Planning (CGPD) into its curriculum for Brazilian Armed Forces.
• Sri Lanka National Defense CollegemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerISG collaborated with newly established Sri Lankan National Defense College for ICB project support during and after COVID-19 pandemic period.
• U.S. Embassy - ColombomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Sri Lanka defense governance support, with Sri Lanka Ministry of Defense reaching out through Embassy for ISG assistance.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institute-for-security-governance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Institute for Security Governance