Resident Phase of PASS Begins

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PASS 22-20 Dr. Benedict Franke

Resident Phase of PASS Begins

By Marshall Center Public Affairs Office

The resident phase of the 2022 Program on Applied Security Studies kicked off Sep. 27 at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies.

The face-to-face session was formally opened by retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Barre R. Seguin, Director of the Marshall Center, with Dr. Benedict Franke, the CEO of the Munich Security Conference, as the Distinguished Opening Speaker.

“Friendships start here in the PASS and last for a lifetime,” said Seguin in his opening remarks, underscoring the importance of the participants developing a network during the 10-week program.

PASS, which brings in more than 50 participants from 33 countries, will run until the end of November. The program addresses a broad spectrum of topical issues related to international and regional security, defense, international law, and existing and emerging threats and challenges and their mitigation. The 2022 PASS is taking place against the background of tensions and turmoil in international affairs, with conventional war having returned to the European continent caused by Russia’s unprovoked aggression against neighboring Ukraine.

In his opening remarks, Franke highlighted the manifold challenges the international community is currently facing, saying, “We are at an inflection in our history.”  

The resident phase follows a two-week long period of virtual sessions. The in-resident PASS portion will now cover contemporary challenges and opportunities with lectures, seminar and electives on issues such as globalization, cybersecurity and terrorism. It will also address regional questions related to the Arctic and the Black Sea areas. Speakers include Marshall Center faculty members as well as internationally renowned experts from Germany, the United States, India and the Middle East.