EAG Co-delivers a Regional Energy Security Course with the NATO School Oberammergau

By Tahmina Karimova 
Faculty Associates-Research Energy Academic Group

From 10–14 October 2021, the Naval Postgraduate School’s Energy Academic Group (EAG) partnered with the NATO School Oberammergau (NSO) to execute the Critical Energy Infrastructure Protection (CEIP) and Resilience Course for Kuwait and neighboring countries.     

Due to continuous COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, the course was executed virtually with an excellent participation turnaround. The course brought together 19 students from various governmental and military organizations representing Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates. The course aimed to raise awareness of the criticality of energy’s role in national and regional security as well as the fragility and vulnerabilities of critical energy infrastructure through a series of lectures, case studies, and syndicate work. Featured lectures included NATO’s role in energy security, global and regional energy developments, maritime dimensions of energy security, operational energy, CEIP and resilience, threats and hazards to infrastructure, climate security, and best practices on improving resilience in the energy domain.     

The NPS-NSO partnership initially started back in 2004 and has strengthened over the years to develop tailored curricula on cyber security, maritime security, energy security, and critical energy infrastructure protection and resilience. EAG has been playing an active role in collaboratively designing and expanding course offerings in these critical subject areas to NATO members and partners. Collaboration as such is instrumental in strengthening international partnerships, while concurrently meeting NPS’ core mission of naval education, research, and outreach.