Defense Security Cooperation University

Name

Defense Security Cooperation University

Legal name

Defense Security Cooperation University

Website

https://dscu.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defense Education and Training

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), National Security (928110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

War Colleges & Senior Service Colleges (EDAHAOAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Command & Staff Colleges (Intermediate-Level Education) (EDAHAOAD), Military Graduate & Postgraduate Institutions (STEM/Defense Research) (EDAHAOAE)

Keywords

• Security cooperation education
• Military training programs
• Foreign military sales
• Institutional capacity building
• Defense workforce development

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: DSCU is a Department of Defense institution funded through government appropriations. Revenue comes from DoD budget allocations for security cooperation education and training programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Defense Security Cooperation University (DSCU) is the U.S. Department of Defense's primary Security Cooperation educational institution. It delivers education, training, workforce development, advising, research, analysis, and lessons learned to the U.S. Security Cooperation workforce and partner nations. Its core offerings include Security Cooperation workforce certification, Foreign Military Sales (FMS) training, Institutional Capacity Building (ICB) education, legal education through DIILS, and the Ministry of Defense Advisor (MoDA) program.

Product overview

The Defense Security Cooperation University (DSCU) is the Department of Defense's primary Security Cooperation educational institution organized as a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offerings include: (1) SC Workforce & Certification 2.0 for U.S. workforce development; (2) ISG Resident and Mobile Education providing international courses in security governance, cyber capability, emergency management, defense acquisition, logistics, maritime security, and peacekeeping; (3) the FMS Wall Walk and How DSCA Runs interactive courses for FMS process education; (4) the Brigadier General Charles Young Institute for research, analysis, and lessons learned; (5) Ministry of Defense Advisor program for in-country capacity building; and (6) SAN/ISAN portals for security cooperation training management. DSCU operates as an office within the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, delivering education, training, workforce development, advising, research, analysis, and lessons learned to advance the National Defense Strategy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Institute for Security Governance (ISG): DoD's leading implementer for Institutional Capacity Building and one of its primary international schoolhouses, providing tailored advising, education, and professional development programs.
• Brigadier General Charles Young Research, Analysis, and Lessons Learned Institute
• Ministry of Defense Advisor (MoDA) Program
• Defense Institute of International Legal Studies (DIILS)

Products and services

• SC Workforce & Certification 2.0 DSCU's primary workforce development program that trains and certifies the U.S. Security Cooperation workforce, including Security Cooperation Officers, Combatant Command staff, MILDEP personnel, and DSCA staff. It provides course catalog access, certification pathways, and fact sheets for professional development in Security Cooperation disciplines.
• FMS Wall Walk Interactive online course providing a data-centric overview of the Foreign Military Sales process from requirements generation to case closure. Developed by DSCU in collaboration with FMS subject matter experts, for the U.S. Security Cooperation workforce and partner nation practitioners.
• How DSCA Runs Overview course explaining how the Defense Security Cooperation Agency implements Security Cooperation Title 22 and Title 10 Programs with U.S. Allies and Partners, along with key information on working with DSCA.
• ISG Resident and Mobile Education Tailored education and professional development courses delivered in the U.S., abroad, and virtually in short-course formats covering Security Governance & Civil-Military Relations, Cyber Capability, Emergency Management & Resilience, International Defense Acquisition Resource Management, Logistics Capability Building, Maritime Security, and Peacekeeping, Conflict & Terrorism portfolios. Designed for international military officers and defense ministry civilians.
• DSCU International Training, Education, and Advising (including DIILS Legal Education) International military training and education Security Cooperation programs and authorities executed by the Department of Defense, including Legal Education & Advising through the Defense Institute of International Legal Studies (DIILS) and broader Capacity Building programs. Targets international military and civilian defense professionals.
• Brigadier General Charles Young Research, Analysis, and Lessons Learned Institute (BGCY-RALLI) DSCU's research institute that advances the profession of Security Cooperation through research, data collection, analysis, publication, and learning. Includes Evidence-Based Insights, Sponsored Research, Lessons Learned, SC Conference, and Speaker Series programs.
• Ministry of Defense Advisor (MoDA) Program Program that partners senior DoD civilian experts with foreign counterparts at the ministerial level to build institutional capacity in Acquisition and Logistics, Personnel and Readiness, Strategy and Policy, Human Resource Management, and Financial Management. Has deployed 700+ advisors to more than 30 countries since July 2010.
• Security Assistance Network (SAN) Internal DoD portal through which the Security Cooperation-Training Management System (SC-TMS) is accessed by Security Cooperation Offices, Combatant Commands, MILDEPs, DSCA, and other organizations involved in security cooperation. Requires CAC authentication.
• International Security Assistance Network (ISAN) Portal on the internet that allows Partner Nation individuals working with Security Cooperation Offices to view their Standardized Training List (STL) and Training-Military Articles and Services Listing (T-MASL).
• DSCU Library Library supporting DSCU's mission by collecting and promoting scholarly works that impact the field of Security Cooperation. Provides access to databases including CultureGrams, EBSCO, HeinOnline, JSTOR, Nexis Uni, ProQuest, and other academic resources.
• Foreign Military Sales for International Partners Course Series New Foreign Military Sales Course Series designed to enhance FMS expertise of U.S. allies and partners, aligning with Executive Order 14628. Delivered twice per fiscal year in-residence and through Mobile Training Teams at regional and country levels.
• Foreign Military Sales for NATO Allies Course Series Course series specifically tailored to NATO members' unique requirements, aiming to improve their ability to develop and execute FMS cases addressing national and collective security requirements. Delivered twice per fiscal year in-residence and through Mobile Training Teams. Inaugural session held May 22, 2026 at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies in Germany with 33 students including 29 allied practitioners from 16 NATO member states.

Quantifiable outcome

• 700+ MoDA advisors deployed to more than 30 countries since July 2010
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• George C. Marshall European Center for Security StudiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, a U.S. Department of War and German Federal Ministry of Defense partnership, for delivery of FMS for NATO Allies course. The inaugural course was held at this location in Germany.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Marine Corps University: Another senior PME institution delivering professional military education including to international officers. Comparable in PME delivery and international engagement, though service-specific and broader in scope than DSCU's specialized security cooperation mandate.
• Naval War College: A senior service college with a strong international fellows program and strategic research focus. Comparable in senior-level PME delivery, international student engagement, and research output, though service-specific (Navy/Marine Corps) and broader than DSCU's security cooperation focus.
• National Defense University: NDU is the DoD's senior flagship institution for joint professional military education, educating senior U.S. and international military and civilian leaders. It is the closest direct comparison as a statutory DoD educational institution with both U.S. workforce development and international partner engagement, though at a broader strategic rather than security-cooperation-specific level.

Direct peers

• George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies: A U.S.-German partnership institution that delivers security education across Europe and beyond. DSCU partners with the Marshall Center for the new FMS for NATO Allies course, making it both a peer and collaborator in security cooperation executive education.
• Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies: A DoD regional center delivering executive education, research, and engagement to military and civilian leaders across the Indo-Pacific. Directly comparable in mission (security cooperation education, partner-nation engagement, applied research), scope (executive-level courses), and delivery model (resident, mobile, virtual).
• Naval Postgraduate School: NPS hosted CCMR (DSCU's predecessor) from 1994 to 2019, making it the most direct historical peer. It continues to deliver graduate-level defense-focused education to U.S. and international military officers, overlapping directly in subject matter (defense acquisition, civil-military relations) and partner-nation audiences.
• NATO Defense College: NATO's primary senior-level educational institution delivering strategic education to NATO allies and partners. Comparable in audience (NATO and partner-nation officials), subject matter (strategy, defense policy, security cooperation), and senior-level orientation, though alliance-scoped rather than U.S.-scoped.
• Africa Center for Strategic Studies: Another DoD regional center providing strategic education and research to African security leaders. Directly comparable in mission, audience (African defense and civilian officials), and delivery (resident seminars, mobile engagement, research output), making it a close operational peer.
• U.S. Army War College: A senior service college focused on strategic-level education for U.S. Army officers and international fellows. Comparable to DSCU in serving senior military and civilian leaders, conducting strategic research, and educating international partners, though service-specific rather than cross-functional.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dscu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Defense Security Cooperation University