The Defense Security Cooperation University’s (DSCU) Defense Institute of International Legal Studies (DIILS), located in Newport, R. I., recently surpassed the highest recorded annual total of international students in residence with DIILS. To recognize the occasion, DIILS hosted a visit from Dr. Jason Fritz, the DSCU Chief Academic Officer, and a cake cutting ceremony with international students.

For 30 years, DIILS been the lead U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) Security Cooperation resource for global legal engagement with Partner Nation security sector institutions and personnel. As Security Cooperation continues to grow in importance as a tool of national security, DIILS’ objectives remain: “To develop and implement effective security cooperation programs that build partner legal capacity, including equitable, transparent and accountable defense institutions, civilian control of the military, observance of International Human Rights and the Law of Armed Conflict, and democratic governance.”

To meet these objectives, DIILS offers Legal Institutional Capacity Building and Rule of Law programs, as well as Resident Course offerings covering the full spectrum of rule of law issues. DIILS has hosted a record number of 219 international military and civilian students in Newport during the Fiscal Year 2023 academic year.

DIILS offers nine resident courses each year focused on a spectrum of ‘Rule of Law’ topics for Partner Nation participants at DIILS education center Education Center. Most courses are three to four weeks in length and participants also attend Field Studies events in Newport, Boston, New York City or Washington, D.C.

DSCU’s DIILS is jointly staffed with Judge Advocates from each branch of the U.S. armed forces, as well as a cadre of experienced DOD civilian attorneys and support personnel. Since its inception in 1992 as the international training detachment at the Naval Justice School, and subsequent transfer to DSCA in 2000, DIILS has provided legal Security Cooperation programming for more than 78,000 international military and civilian participants from more than 180 countries.

DSCU’s cross-functional and worldwide team of more than 350 dedicated professionals conduct training, education, research, institutional capacity building, and advising efforts in support of the Security Cooperation workforce, strategic partners, and the National Defense Strategy. In collaboration with the rest of DSCA, the University and its components plans for and respond to the real-world challenges and requirements of those we serve.

A team from the Defense Security Cooperation University’s (DSCU) Defense Institute of International Legal Studies (DIILS) recently traveled to North Macedonia to conduct a seminar on Human Rights and the Law of Armed Conflict with members of the N. Macedonian Army.

As a component of DSCU, DIILS’ broad mission is to advance U.S. national security and foreign policy interests by building the capacity of foreign security forces to respond to shared security challenges in a responsible, accountable, and legally compliant manner. DIILS achieves this mission through activities that promote the rule of law, enhance compliance with human rights and international humanitarian law standards, and support effective and responsible democratic governance. DIILS is jointly staffed with Judge Advocates from each branch of the U.S. armed forces, as well as a cadre of experienced Department of Defense civilian attorneys and support personnel.

A team from the Defense Institute of International Legal Studies (DIILS) recently traveled to the Dominican Republic to conduct a seminar on Human Rights and the Law of Armed Conflict with members of the Dominican Republic Army, Navy, and Air Force. As a component of the Defense Security Cooperation University (DSCU), DIILS advances U.S. national security and foreign policy interests by building the legal capacity of Partner Nations to respond to shared security challenges in a responsible, accountable, and legally compliant manner through activities that promote the rule of law, enhance compliance with human rights and international humanitarian law, and support effective and responsible democratic governance.

Twenty-one students graduated from the Defense Security Cooperation University’s Defense Institute for International Legal Studies (DIILS) 2024 Legal Aspects of Combating Terrorism course. Countries represented were Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Egypt, Czech Republic, Guyana, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Lebanon, Moldova, Morocco, Malta, Oman, Mozambique, Panama, Slovenia, Trinidad & Tobago, Thailand, and Tunisia.

For more than 30 years, DIILS, located in Newport, Rhode Island, has been the lead U.S. Department of Defense Security Cooperation resource for global legal engagement with Partner Nation security sector institutions and personnel. As a component of the Defense Security Cooperation University, DIILS broad mission is to advance U.S. national security and foreign policy interests by building the capacity of foreign security forces to respond to shared security challenges in a responsible, accountable and legally compliant manner.

For more than 30 years, DIILS, located in Newport, Rhode Island, has been the lead U.S. Department of Defense Security Cooperation resource for global legal engagement with Partner Nation security sector institutions and personnel. As a component of the Defense Security Cooperation University, DIILS broad mission is to advance U.S. national security and foreign policy interests by building the capacity of foreign security forces to respond to shared security challenges in a responsible, accountable, and legally compliant manner.

A team from the Defense Security Cooperation University’s (DSCU) Defense Institute of International Legal Studies (DIILS) recently traveled to Peru to meet with members of the Peruvian military as part of an ongoing Security Cooperation program.

For more than 30 years, DIILS, located in Newport, Rhode Island, has been the lead U.S. Department of Defense Security Cooperation resource for global legal engagement with Partner Nation security sector institutions and personnel. As a component of DSCU, DIILS broad mission is to advance U.S. national security and foreign policy interests by building the capacity of foreign security forces to respond to shared security challenges in a responsible, accountable, and legally compliant manner.

Since March of 2022, Brigadier General Mactar Diop, Sénégal Army, has been the Chief of Staff of the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) Standby Force in Abjua, Nigeria.

BG Diop is a DIILS resident course alumnus. Since 1992, DIILS has conducted 2,700 programs engaging 81,000 military and civilian participants from 180 countries. DIILS alum are key contributors to the global security cooperation mission. DIILs is extremely proud of their many achievements.

For more than 30 years, DIILS, located in Newport, Rhode Island, has been the lead U.S. Department of Defense Security Cooperation resource for global legal engagement with Partner Nation security sector institutions and personnel. As a component of the Defense Security Cooperation University, DIILS broad mission is to advance U.S. national security and foreign policy interests by building the capacity of foreign security forces to respond to shared security challenges in a responsible, accountable and legally compliant manner.

Our Charter - The DIILS Charter is now available here.

Vacancies - Please visit Careers & Opportunities for a listing of available DSCU Positions.

A team from the Defense Institute of International Legal Studies (DIILS) recently traveled to Senegal to conduct a seminar on Human Rights and the Law of Armed Conflict with members of the Senegalese military.

For more than 30 years, DIILS, located in Newport, Rhode Island, has been the lead U.S. Department of Defense Security Cooperation resource for global legal engagement with Partner Nation security sector institutions and personnel. As a component of the Defense Security Cooperation University, DIILS broad mission is to advance U.S. national security and foreign policy interests by building the capacity of foreign security forces to respond to shared security challenges in a responsible, accountable, and legally compliant manner.