The Guyana Defence Force continues to strengthen Guyana’s national security framework through the National Defence Institute (NDI), a key initiative of the Commander-in-Chief, H.E. Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, aimed at building stronger, more capable leadership across the country’s security sector.
Under the command of Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan MSS, the chairmanship of Colonel Sheldon Howell MSM, and the directorship of Dr. Randolph Persaud, the NDI brings together the Joint Services, specifically, the Guyana Defence Force, Guyana Police Force, Guyana Prison Service, and Guyana Fire Service, into a single, coordinated system for leadership development and strategic thinking.
Supporting the operational execution and academic direction of the Institute is Dr. Seon Levius, Deputy Director of the NDI, a highly accomplished Guyanese professional with over 17 years of experience across academia, international development, and ICT leadership at the highest levels. He is a tenured Associate Professor of Technology at the State University of New York at Potsdam and also lectures at Clarkson University. His career spans critical leadership roles supporting regional transformation initiatives through institutions such as the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) and the Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA), where he helped shape policy, strengthen systems, and advance digital capability across the Caribbean.
At the NDI, Dr. Levius is a central force behind the Institute’s design and delivery, bringing structure, discipline, and international academic standards to a programme built for real-world impact. He operates at the intersection of strategy and execution, ensuring that the Institute is not only conceptually strong but operationally effective. His leadership reflects a rare combination of intellectual depth, practical experience, and national commitment, making him uniquely equipped to help translate this vision into a lasting institutional capability for Guyana.
At the official opening ceremony of the Certificate in Defence Studies Programme on March 31, 2026, at Camp Ayanganna, Dr. Levius outlined the progress and purpose of the initiative, noting that the programme is already operating at full capacity with participants drawn from across the Joint Services.
The 16-week programme is built to strengthen leadership, improve analytical thinking, and deepen coordination between agencies. Participants are already producing research and policy work on key national issues, including border security, cyber threats, economic pressures, and regional security dynamics.
Core courses in the Certificate in Defence Studies Programme include:
• Introduction to Strategic Studies
Focuses on war and peace, grand strategy, crisis decision-making, and security challenges facing small states.
• Human Security and Human Development
Covers state authority, economic stability, conflict drivers, migration, and development as tools for security.
• Foreign Policy Analysis
Examines Guyana’s foreign policy, CARICOM relations, global power dynamics, and the Guyana-Venezuela issue.
• Build and Manage Effective Teams
Focuses on leadership models, team-building strategies, and managing complex organizations.
• Security Process Analysis
Applies practical methods to improve systems, workflows, and change management within security institutions.
With five additional courses, the Institute is expanding its reach and ensuring that more officers across the Joint Services are equipped to lead, plan, and respond effectively.
The National Defence Institute is already delivering tangible results, strengthening coordination across agencies, improving decision-making capacity, and building a cadre of professionals prepared to serve at a higher level.
For the members of the Joint Services, this is an investment in their growth and professionalism. For the people of Guyana, it is a clear step toward a safer, stronger, and more resilient nation.
Stronger leadership. Better coordination. A more secure Guyana.
