Inter-American Defense College
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Founded in 1962, the Inter-American Defense College (IADC) is the academic entity of the Inter-American Defense Board (IADB), an independently operating entity of the Organization of American States (OAS). The IADC is hosted by the United States Government on Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington D.C. It operates with a Permanent License from the Higher Education Licensure Commission (HELC) of the District of Columbia and is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. IADC educates senior leaders from OAS member nations representing the military, police, diplomatic corps, and other agencies of government with roles in hemispheric defense and security. IADC is accredited to provide a master of science and a diploma in Inter-American Defense and Security.
To prepare military officers, national police, and civilian government officials from member states of the OAS to assume senior strategic-level positions within their governments, through graduate and advanced-level academic programs in defense, security, and related disciplines focused on the hemisphere.
To maintain our status as the premier joint, interagency, intergovernmental, multinational academic institution in Defense and Security studies of the Hemisphere. “La Mejor”
In accordance with the IADB Council of Delegates’ guidance to the IADC, the College has established the following Strategic Objectives Goals in support of above mission and vision:
In accordance with the Plan of Studies, in order to receive the IADC master’s degree or diploma certificate, all students are expected to meet the four following Institutional Learning Outcomes:
IADC has a permanent license to operate as a higher education institution from the Higher Education Licensure Commission in the District of Columbia (HELC). It was granted accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) on 24 June 2021 with retroactive approval to 15 March 2018 and valid until 2028.
The Inter-American Defense College is an Accredited institution and a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE or the Commission) www.msche.org. The IADC accreditation status is Accreditation Granted. The Commission’s most recent action on the institution’s accreditation status on October 21, 2023, was to note the verification visit took place on May 30, 2023. MSCHE is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education to conduct accreditation and pre-accreditation (candidate status) activities for institutions of higher education including distance, correspondence education, and direct assessment programs offered at those institutions. The Commission’s geographic area of accrediting activities is throughout the United States.
IADC has a permanent license to operate as a higher education institution from the Higher Education Licensure Commission in the District of Columbia (HELC). It was granted accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) on 24 June 2021 with retroactive approval to 15 March 2018 and valid until 2028.
The IADC analyses educational, administrative and support functions to assist the compliance of the mission with strict quality standards. On a daily basis, an Institutional Effectiveness team collects, analyzes, and assesses different types of data and is subject to external oversight. This supplies accurate and reliable information for students, candidates, graduates, staff, faculty, and stakeholders.
The college periodically complies with external peer review and audits from the U.S. federal and state governments, and the accrediting agency MSCHE. With its current size, budget, staff, and number of programs, it is amongst the very few that complies with the highest standards of postsecondary education nationwide.
The College’s academic program is reviewed annually to include the main improvements suggested during the previous academic year’s course assessment process. The modifications to the academic program are implemented after the detailed staff revision by the IADC leadership for final approval by the Director. The academic program review process is done by the CDC, which evaluates previous academic years. Recommendations are made based on assessment results from the following sources:
a. Results related to Program/Course level
b. Mid-Year and End-of-Year Survey
c. Mid-Year and End-of-Year Reports
d. External Survey Reports
e. Analysis of the resolutions and work plans of the OAS
At the recommendation of the IADB Council of Delegates, the OAS established the IADC on 9 October 1962 as an educational institution, hosted by the United States, with the following legal address: Inter-American Defense College 210 B Street SW Suite 1 Fort McNair Washington, DC 20319-5008 https://iadc.edu/ (202) 370-0176 In accordance with the 2006 Statues, the OAS established the IADC as one of three organs of the IADB.
The IADC is the educational organ of the IADB. Organization of American States 200 17th St NW Washington, DC 20006-4499 United States of America Main Telephone: 1 (202) 370 5000 Inter-American Defense Board 2600 16th Street Northwest Washington, DC 20441 Main telephone: 202-939-6041 Fax: 202-319-2847 Mail: jid@jid.org The College Director, by convention, is a U.S. General or Flag Officer complies with both the host nation (United States) legal framework, and the guidance of the IADB Council of Delegates. The three elected officials of the College are assigned for a period of two years, with the possibility of extension for an additional two years: a. Director: Major General Richard Heitkamp, U.S. Army. Vice Director: General de Brigada Carlos Eduardo Barbosa Costa, Brazilian Army. Chief of Studies: General de Grupo Piloto Aviador Abel Martínez, Mexican Air Force.
210 B St, Washington,
DC 20319
iadc_protocol@iadc.edu
