On 16 April, the Marshall Center Alumni Association of Ukraine – in close cooperation with the National Institute for Strategic Studies (NISS) of Ukraine – staged a half-day conference on “Ukraine’s Energy Security – External and Internal Challenges”.

Marshall Center Professor Gregory Gleason was among the presenters at the event, which included nearly 60 Ukrainian officials and over 40 Marshall Center alumni from NISS, the National Institute for International Security Problems of the National Security and Defense Council, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Economy.

Attendees included U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Mr. Jim Petit, who gave opening remarks, as well as German Defense Attaché to Ukraine COL Eberhard von Seydlitz (Marshall Center Alumni from class EP 2004-1) and U.S. Deputy Army Attaché LTC Martin Ryan (Marshall Center Alumni from class LC 99-2).

Among the distinguished Ukrainian alumni attendees was Deputy Minister of Economy Dr. Valerii Muntiian (dual graduate from EP 96-1 and SES 2001-2). Also attending was Moldovan Alumni Association President COL (Ret.) Andrei Covrig (EP 96-2).

Click to enlarge Prof. Gleason (right) lectures as NISS Director Dr. Yuri Ruban listens. MC Graduate Dr. Tetyana Brezhnyeva (LPASS 2007-7) is also visible at far left.	Click to enlarge Prof Gleason chats with Deputy Economy Minister Valerii Muntiian.	Click to enlarge This conference was particularly noteworthy in that questions and answers exceeded the scheduled duration of the conference by almost one full hour.
Click to enlarge COL von Seydlitz (left) chats with NISS staff members and Marshall Center Alumni Serhiy Yanishevskyi and Ms. Tetyana Zaiats (EPASS 2006-7).	Click to enlarge It’s always a pleasure seeing recent alumni meet again. From left, Mr. Yuri Plias (LC 2004-4), Ms. Olena Snigyr (LPASS 08-1) and Mr. Dmytro Kushnir (LPASS 2008-1).	Click to enlarge An historic meeting of Marshall Center Alumni Association Presidents: Serhiy Yanishevski of Ukraine and COL (Ret.) Andrei Covrig of Moldova.
Click to enlarge A snapshot of activity with several key figures (from left to right in foreground): U.S. Embassy DCM Mr. Jim Petit, U.S. Embassy Pol-Econ Officer Mr. Patrick Slowinski, Col. Serhiy Sokolov (EPASS 2005-4), COL von Seydlitz and NISS Program Coordinator Ms. Nina Marchenko.	Click to enlarge EPASS 2005-4 classmates and stalwart outreach attendees Col. Serhiy Sokolov and Ms. Zoya Fedorchuk.	Click to enlarge Prof. Gleason enjoys a moment with the scenic backdrop of a cathedral in Kyiv’s historic Podil District.