Programme launched to equip officers for evolving security challenges

The National Defence Institute on Tuesday launched its Certificate in Defence Studies programme, aimed at building strategic leadership within the security sector.
Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, delivering the keynote address at the opening ceremony at the Officers’ Mess, Base Camp Ayanganna, said the initiative creates a pathway for growth, learning and stronger leadership.
He said the programme is designed to help officers and security professionals develop the skills needed to respond to complex and evolving national security challenges.
“It marks a meaningful step forward in our country’s development and how we prepare for the future of Guyana’s national security. This certificate in Defence Studies now underway at the National Defence Institute goes beyond and must go beyond a traditional course,” Phillips said.
He added that the programme supports collaboration across the country’s disciplined services and civilian agencies, strengthening coordination and building a unified approach to national security.
“Through this programme, our officers and security professionals will be challenged to think beyond routine operations. They will engage with real-world case studies, emergent threats and strategic scenarios that demand both critical thinking and sound judgment,” he said.
Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan, said strategic thinking is central to effective leadership and national development, noting that the programme will help prepare leaders capable of strengthening decision-making within Guyana’s defence and security institutions.
“Initiatives like these are not routine undertakings. They are investments in the intellectual infrastructure of our nation. They represent a deliberate step toward strengthening the strategic capacity of Guyana. And not only at the officer level, but at the other rank level,” Khan said.
The programme runs for 16 weeks and includes five graduate-level courses delivered through a combination of online, hybrid and face-to-face learning.