Yerevan, Armenia – March 18, 2026 – The American Armenian Na- tional Security Institute (AANSI) an- nounced that a delegation led by Maj. Gen. Mark MacCarley (retired, US Army), AANSI Founding Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Mr. Appo Jabarian, AANSI Vice-Presi- dent/Chief Operating Officer, conduct- ed a series of lectures and interactive discussions at two prominent institu- tions of the Armenian armed forces in Yerevan this week. On Monday and Tuesday of the second week of March, the AANSI team engaged with students and faculty of Armenia Ministry of Defense’s National Defense Research Univer- sity (NDRU), hosted by its Comman- dant, Maj. Gen. Albert Baghdadyan. The sessions featured lectures and lively seminar discussions on nation- al security topics. Joining Maj. Gen. MacCarley and Mr. Jabarian were Col. Jim Robinette (retired, US Army) and Ukraine Army Military Air Intelligence Division Commander Lt. Col. Bob Pogossian. On Wednesday, the AANSI team continued their efforts at the Vasgen Sargsyan Military Academy (VSMA), where they delivered lectures and fa- cilitated discussions with students and instructors from the Command and Gen eral Staff Institute. The event was hosted by the Academy’s Commandant, Col. Arsen Mangasaryan. Participating in the seminar at VSMA was US Embassy’s Senior Defense Official, U.S. Defense At- taché in Armenia Colonel Matthew Crowe. Maj. Gen. MacCarley commented on the initiative: “We at AANSI were grateful for the opportunity to help further Armenia’s national security by these latest lectures and discussions with present and future leaders of the Armenian Armed Forces. We share the hope for Armenia to live and develop in peace with its neighbors.” AANSI remains committed to fostering international collaboration and exper- tise-sharing to strengthen national security frameworks in Armenia and beyond. This marks the 13th AANSI mission to Armenia; the 6th Educational mis- sion to Armenia’s NDRU and the 1st to the Vasgen Sargsyan Military Academy (VSMA). The American Armenian National Security Institute (AANSI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing Armenia’s national security through educa- tion, research, and strategic partnerships. Led by experienced military and secu- rity professionals, AANSI focuses on building capacity and promoting peace in the region. AANSI envisions a day where American and Armenian security interests co- alesce and are mutually reinforcing in the South Caucasus. To do so, requires the passionate involvement and commitment of time and resources of Americans of all walks of life, to include American Armenians and the Diaspora, at large.
AANSI’S MISSION:
The American Armenian National Security Institute (AANSI) is dedicated to preparing research and educating Congressional, military and civilian national security decision-makers on American defense and strategic interests, primarily in the South Caucasus, the cornerstone of which is an anticipated robust Ameri- can Armenian security cooperation agreement. AANSI believes that a strong Armenian military with a correspondingly invigorated national security posture is the best guarantor of peace and the maintenance of democratic values in one of the most contentious and volatile parts of the world, where the primary actors – Russia, Iran, Turkey and Azerbaijan – are battling for regional hegemony. AANSI – The American Armenian National Security Institute is a tax-ex- empt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. EIN 87-1560030 AANSI is not funded by the U.S. government, the Republic of Armenia gov- ernment or any other government. It is funded through donations provided by generous supporters from within the American Armenian community and main- stream Americans with affinity toward Armenia and the Armenian Heritage. AANSI is a non-partisan entity. For more information visit www.AANSI.org and the AANSI YouTube chan- nel: AANSI — American Armenian National Security Inst. https://youtube.com/@aansi–americanarmeniannat4721