Soldier-lecturer invited to study US security

A soldier and Massey University lecturer is off to the United States to take part in a course examining US national security policy and current threats facing the country.

Major Josh Wineera was the only New Zealander invited to the programme by the US State Department.

Major Wineera said he felt humbled to be representing New Zealand, the Defence Force, and Massey University's Centre for Defence and Security Studies.

"This will be an excellent opportunity to deepen our understanding of the way the US formulates its national security policy," he said.

The post-graduate level programme begins later this month in Amherst, Massachusetts, and involved about 20 participants from around the world. It includes sessions at Harvard University and visits to the University of California in San Diego and Washington DC.

The six-week programme will examine such issues as energy policy, economic stability, cyber-security, chemical and biological weapons, nuclear weapons and infectious diseases. The United States Government will meet all costs.

In addition to lecturing at Massey University, Major Wineera speaks to many Defence Force contingents preparing for overseas deployments, particularly to Afghanistan.

His operational experience included missions to Bosnia, Bougainville, East Timor and more recently Iraq. He was also a member of the New Zealand forum of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific.

"2012 will be a big year for me," Major Wineera said. "I start with this incredible invitation to deepen my understanding of US national security policy and it will continue as I embark on a PhD.

"By total coincidence my doctorate will examine New Zealand's approach to international security and will compare it to other nations, including the US."

- © Fairfax NZ News