Welcome to the Marshall Center

The Seminar on Transatlantic Civil Security (STACS ) provides civil security professionals from Europe, Eurasia and North America an in-depth look at how nations can effectively address domestic security issues that have regional and international impact.

The three-week seminar examines best practices for ensuring civil security and preventing, preparing for and managing the consequences of domestic and regional crises and disasters. STACS is planned to be offered twice a year for military officers and government officials responsible for civil security policies and programs, as well as representatives of intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations with civil security responsibilities.

With its focus on the development of core knowledge and skills, STACS provides a critical professional development opportunity in the emerging field of civil security.

STACS is organized in four modules:

• Threats and Hazards
• Prepare and Protect
• Respond and Recover
• Field Study

Within this comprehensive framework, participants study a number of key topics:

• Understanding the challenges posed by terrorist threats and “all hazards” events
• Protecting and managing risks to critical infrastructure
• Achieving secure borders and enhancing transportation security efforts
• Planning for and executing integrated interagency crisis and consequence management
• Providing defense support to civil authority
• Managing media and public information
• Enhancing interagency and international processes for civil security
• Ensuring coordinated sharing and use of intelligence and information in support of civil security

The STACS curriculum, which consists of lectures, seminars, case studies and field studies, is designed to emphasize and enhance the essential skills of the civil security professional, including communication, collaboration, planning, critical thinking, strategic leadership, and crisis and risk management skills.

By developing common grounds of knowledge, core skills and contacts, STACS improves participants’ ability not only to address domestic civil security issues but also to operate regionally and internationally.