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Dr. Kiril Avramov is a post-doctoral research fellow of the Intelligence Studies Project (ISP) at the University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. Avramov was until December 2017 the Acting Vice-Rector for International Relations and Research at the New Bulgarian University (NBU) in Sofia, Bulgaria and an Assistant Professor of Political Science at NBU. He studied previously at Gustavus Adolphus College (USA/MN), the University of Aberdeen (Scotland), University of Sofia (Bulgaria), Central European University (Hungary), and NBU. He taught in the Department of Political Science at the University of Sofia until 2005 and, from 2006-2010, was also the Director of the international consultancy and research institute “Political Capital” in Bulgaria. In 2010, he was appointed as the Director for International Relations of Political Capital at the firm’s headquarters in Budapest.

Dr. Avramov’s main research interests are information warfare, psychological operations and mass cognitive hacking, as well as the “weaponization of information” and their respective application and effects on individual and group decision-making processes in the Central and Eastern Europe and MENA regions. Additional areas of interest include political elites’ and non-elites’ decision-making resilience mechanisms and radicalization in post-transition democracies during identified active “psy-ops” and third-party information operations. 

Dr. Avramov was a Fulbright Senior Visiting Research Scholar at the Center for Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies (CREEES) at the University of Texas at Austin in 2015-2016. He earned a full scholarship for his Ph.D. research at the University of Sofia and received an “Open Society Institute-Sofia” scholarship for his year-long Ph.D. specialization at the Central European University in Budapest.

Abel Esterhuyse is an associate professor of strategy in the Faculty of Military Science of Stellenbosch University at the South African Military Academy. He is also a research associate of the Centre for Conflict, Rule of Law and Society (CRoLS) at the Bournemouth University in the UK.

Holding a PhD from the University of Stellenbosch, he is also a graduate of:

• The Senior Leadership Programme of the African Center for Strategic Studies in Washington DC.
• The Summer Programme in Military History at the US Military Academy, West Point,
• The Programme on the Analysis of Military Operations and Strategy (SWAMOS) of Columbia University’s Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies in New York.

As academic he -

• Participated in more than 40 subject-related conferences in more than 15 countries;
• Published 32 peer-reviewed accredited academic journal articles;
• Published 9 book chapters;
• Edited 3 book publications.

Prof Esterhuyse is a rated scientist of the South African National Research Foundation. His most recent publication, titled The practice of strategy: South African defence in stasis, was published in the British journal Defence & Security Analysis.

Molly Dunigan is a Senior Political Scientist and Associate Director of the Defense and Political Sciences Department at the RAND Corporation, and a lecturer in Carnegie Mellon University's Institute for Politics and Strategy. Her research interests focus on private military and security contractors, civil–military relations, irregular warfare, counterinsurgency, maritime security, and civilian deployment. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including a U.S. Institute of Peace Jennings Randolph Peace Fellowship, a U.S. State Department Foreign Language Areas Studies Fellowship, and an International Studies Association Catalytic Research Grant. Prominent among Dunigan's published work are Victory for Hire: Private Security Companies' Impact on Military Effectiveness(Stanford University Press, 2011), The Markets for Force: Privatization of Security Across World Regions (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2015), and the RAND reports Out of the Shadows: The Health and Well-Being of Private Contractors Working in Conflict Environments (Dunigan et al., 2013) and Expeditionary Civilians: Creating a Viable Practice of Department of Defense Civilian Deployment (Dunigan et al., 2016).

An internationally recognized expert on private security contracting, Dunigan's work on this topic has been cited in USA Today, Time Magazine, Washington Post, U.S. News & World Report, and Forbes. Dunigan's publications have been favorably reviewed in Military Review, The Journal of Military and Strategic Studies, The Journal of Military History, Survival, Parameters, and The Boston Globe, and her op-eds have appeared in The National Interest, USA Today, The Hill, U.S. News & World Report, and The Christian Science Monitor. Dunigan received her Ph.D. in government from Cornell University.

Johan Raath was a private military contractor in Iraq from 2004, where he performed specialized protection tasks for VIPs and sheiks, engineers working on construction projects funded by the US government, oilfield engineers and construction workers. 

His tasks, as country security manager for a large consortium of companies, involved setting up missions by liaising with the US military, the Iraqi security forces, tribal leaders and other local stakeholders, and establishing intelligence sources. These multifaceted missions encompassed all components of high-risk security work - personal protection, perimeter security, force protection measures, explosive detection capabilities, convoy security, air operations, and maritime patrols. 

Raath was a South African Special Forces operator, or Recce, from 1986 to 1992. Then he started a security training and consulting company and went into high-risk security work in Africa. Since the 1990s, he was involved in security missions in over 15 countries, including conflict zones such as Libya, southern Sudan, Sierra Leone, Haiti, and the Middle East. 

Raath also worked as a personal security officer, or bodyguard, for a number of international presidents. His training and protection services have won him accolades from many government organizations, including US government agencies and USAID. 

He is also a trained combat paramedic and assisted in various mass casualty scenarios after suicide bomb attacks in Iraq. He is a close-protection and specialized combat instructor, and has trained international security teams in various countries. 

From 2015 to 2017, Raath was part of the senior Iraq Country Management team for one of the largest US private security companies in the world, in support of various US diplomatic protective services.

Dr. Daniel S. Papp retired as President of Kennesaw State University (KSU) in 2016.  Since his retirement, he has served as President of Papp Consulting LLC.

During his 10 years as president, Papp led the consolidation of KSU and Southern Polytechnic State, making KSU one of the 50 largest U.S. universities; initiated its first doctoral programs; led KSU’s first capital campaign; added over $500 million of facilities; guided KSU into NCAA Division I athletics including intercollegiate football; expanded KSU’s external funded research; and doubled KSU’s study abroad program, including opening KSU’s first international campus.

Before becoming KSU President, Papp was Senior Vice Chancellor for Academics and Fiscal Affairs of the University System of Georgia (USG); Interim President of Southern Polytechnic; Executive Assistant to the President of Georgia Tech; Founding Director of Tech’s Sam Nunn School of International Affairs; and Director of Tech’s School of Social Sciences.

Papp has been Senior Research Scholar at both the Center for Aerospace Doctrine of the Air War College and the Strategic Studies Institute of the Army War College.  The Army twice awarded him the “Outstanding Civilian Service” medal.  He also has been Visiting Professor at Western Australia Institute of Technology in Perth; Visiting Professor at Fudan University in Shanghai; and led study abroad programs to the Soviet Union, France, Germany, and Italy.   

A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Dartmouth College, Dr. Papp earned his Ph.D. in International Affairs from the University of Miami.  He is the author, co-author, or editor of 14 books and over 80 articles on U.S. and Soviet/Russian foreign policy and international relations, including former Secretary of State Dean Rusk’s autobiography, As I Saw It.

Dr. C. Anthony Pfaff is the Research Professor for the Military Profession and Ethic at the U.S. Army War Colleges Strategic Studies Institute. A retired Army colonel, Dr. Pfaff recently served as Director for Iraq on the National Security Council Staff. While on active duty, he served on the Policy Planning Staff at the State Department, as the Defense Attaché in Baghdad, the Chief of International Military Affairs for US Army Central Command, and as the Defense Attaché in Kuwait. He served twice in Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, once as the Deputy J2 for a Joint Special Operations Task Force and as the Senior Military Advisor for the Civilian Police Assistance Training Team. He also served as the Senior Intelligence Officer on the Iraq Intelligence Task Force and as a UN observer along the Iraq-Kuwait border. Dr. Pfaff has a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Economics from Washington and Lee University, a master’s degree in Philosophy from Stanford University; a master’s in National Resource Management from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces; and a Doctorate in Philosophy from Georgetown University.

Mark Cancian (Colonel, USMCR, ret.) is a senior adviser with the CSIS International Security Program. He joined CSIS in April 2015 from the Office of Management and Budget, where he spent more than seven years as chief of the Force Structure and Investment Division, working on issues such as Department of Defense budget strategy, war funding, and procurement programs, as well as nuclear weapons development and nonproliferation activities in the Department of Energy. Previously, he worked on force structure and acquisition issues in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and ran research and executive programs at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. In the military, Colonel Cancian spent over three decades in the U.S. Marine Corps, active and reserve, serving as an infantry, artillery, and civil affairs officer and on overseas tours in Vietnam, Desert Storm, and Iraq (twice). Since 2000, he has been an adjunct faculty member at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, where he teaches a course on the connection between policy and analysis. A prolific author, he has published over 40 articles on military operations, acquisition, budgets, and strategy and received numerous writing awards. He graduated with high honors (magna cum laude) from Harvard College and with highest honors (Baker scholar) from Harvard Business School.

Caroline Batka is a doctoral candidate at the Department of Political Science at Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia. Batka’s dissertation research focuses on the institutional components of DoD that hinder and facilitate integration of operational contractors into strategy. She has a broad range of research interests, skills, and experience. From October 2011 to July 2016, Batka worked at RAND Corporation in Washington, D.C. where her research focused on Army operations and planning, military programs and policy, health care, and veterans’ issues. Prior to working at RAND, Batka was a Research Associate at the National Academy of Public Administration. Batka has also worked at the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the Disabled American Veterans, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Batka has a Master of Public Administration from the University of Washington in Seattle and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Communication from Virginia Tech.

Chris Rothery is a senior lecturer with the Centre for Defence and Security Studies at Massey University, New Zealand. He teaches undergraduate and postgraduate papers in military command, operational planning and conventional warfare. Chris has a Master of Military and Defence Studies degree from the Australian National University and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Waikato. He is also a graduate from the Australian Command and Staff College. Chris served 21 years as a Combat Engineer Officer in the New Zealand Army. He held a variety of command positions within the engineer regiment, including serving as a commander for a Combat Engineer Squadron and the Emergency Response Squadron. Chris also held the post as the Chief Instructor at the School of Military Engineering. In addition to his regimental positions, he served as the Director of Army Recruiting and the Operations Officer with the Deployable Joint Inter-Agency Task Force. During his military career Chris conducted operational tours to East Timor and Afghanistan, as well as several humanitarian and disaster relief missions domestically and in the Pacific. Chris has recently completed research into New Zealand’s national security framework and is now focusing on the challenges that climate change will present to New Zealand’s national security.

Molly Dunigan is a Senior Political Scientist and Associate Director of the Defense and Political Sciences Department at the RAND Corporation, and a lecturer in Carnegie Mellon University's Institute for Politics and Strategy. Her research interests focus on private military and security contractors, civil–military relations, irregular warfare, counterinsurgency, maritime security, and civilian deployment. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including a U.S. Institute of Peace Jennings Randolph Peace Fellowship, a U.S. State Department Foreign Language Areas Studies Fellowship, and an International Studies Association Catalytic Research Grant. Prominent among Dunigan's published work are Victory for Hire: Private Security Companies' Impact on Military Effectiveness(Stanford University Press, 2011), The Markets for Force: Privatization of Security Across World Regions (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2015), and the RAND reports Out of the Shadows: The Health and Well-Being of Private Contractors Working in Conflict Environments (Dunigan et al., 2013) and Expeditionary Civilians: Creating a Viable Practice of Department of Defense Civilian Deployment (Dunigan et al., 2016).

An internationally recognized expert on private security contracting, Dunigan's work on this topic has been cited in USA Today, Time Magazine, Washington Post, U.S. News & World Report, and Forbes. Dunigan's publications have been favorably reviewed in Military Review, The Journal of Military and Strategic Studies, The Journal of Military History, Survival, Parameters, and The Boston Globe, and her op-eds have appeared in The National Interest, USA Today, The Hill, U.S. News & World Report, and The Christian Science Monitor. Dunigan received her Ph.D. in government from Cornell University.

JD Work serves as the Bren Chair for Cyber Conflict and Security at the Marine Corps University, where he leads research to develop the theory and practice of the cyber warfighting function across national security strategy, operational design, and tactical planning. He further supports professional military education to prepare leaders to think critically and act decisively in the face of the ambiguity, fog, friction, and chance inherent within modern warfare and other missions in a complex security environment. Mr. Work also directs international research programs for the Cyber Conflict Documentation Project, a nonprofit academic collaboration that seeks to provide insight into the emerging strategic issues, economic consequences, and technology implications created by hostilities in the virtual domain. Mr. Work leads the Project's efforts to establish a reliable baseline of observations regarding the engagements, follow on effects, capabilities, doctrine, and drivers behind the antagonistic action of potential combatants in the networked environment. This nonpartisan and apolitical research serves to support network operators, policymakers, investors, civil society, and other stakeholders in formulating options for early warning, crisis management and crisis prevention both in and through cyberspace. Mr. Work has over 20 years of experience addressing complex transnational issues and asymmetric threats. He previously spent more than a decade working in cyber intelligence and information operations roles on behalf of the private sector and US government. Since 2001, Mr. Work has developed and taught analytic tradecraft courses at a number of academic institutions and US government agencies. He now continues to teach as Adjunct Associate Professor with Columbia University, School of International and Public Affairs.

Dr. Edward L. Mienie is the Executive Director of Strategic & Security Studies and an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science & International Affairs. Dr. Mienie has more than 20 years of experience working in international relations and business, media relations, and coalition building. He earned a bachelor’s degree in law from the University of South Africa and received his doctorate in international conflict management while teaching and leading the academic exchange program with South Africa at Kennesaw State University. He is fluent in English, Afrikaans, and German. He served in the Diplomatic Corps of South Africa from 1987-1998, including four years as Deputy-Ambassador to Switzerland, and four years as the Political Advisor to the Ambassador and US Government/Congressional Liaison, Washington, D.C., 1989-1992. Dr. Mienie is also a veteran of the South African Army, having served four years’ active duty in the Infantry during the Angolan War from 1979-1983. His research interests include: State Fragility; Role of Public Diplomacy in Conflict Management; Intelligence and Counter-Terrorism; Nuclear Non-Proliferation.

Dr. Bryson Payne is a TEDx speaker, best-selling author, and the founding Director of the Center for Cyber Operations Education at the University of North Georgia, an NSA Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense. He is a tenured professor of computer science at ¹û¶³´«Ã½, where he has taught aspiring coders and cyber professionals since 1998. He is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP®) and Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), and he holds the elite SANS|GIAC GPEN certification, among other industry certifications. He was also the first Department Head of Computer Science at ¹û¶³´«Ã½ and enjoys working with K-12 schools worldwide to promote computer science education.

Featured in CIO magazine, Campus Technology, and the Wall Street Journal, Dr. Payne is the best-selling author of Teach Your Kids to Code: A Parent-Friendly Guide to Python Programming (2015, No Starch Press), now published in six languages (Russian, Chinese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, and English), Learn Java the Easy Way (2017, No Starch Press), and Hacking for Kids (2019, No Starch Press). He’s a popular online instructor with over 30,000 students from more than 160 countries, known for his top-rated Udemy course, Real-World Ethical Hacking (2017).

He holds a Ph.D. in computer science from Georgia State University and has published articles in scholarly and trade journals, in addition to speaking regularly at national and international conferences on computer science and cybersecurity education.

Brad Regeski is a senior undergraduate student at the University of North Georgia, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a Cybersecurity minor, and has presented at many conferences across the Southeast region, including the University of North Georgia Civil-Military Symposium, ¹û¶³´«Ã½ Annual Research Conference and Augusta TechNet 2018 Conference. He was a member of Operation: Locked Shields with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), an international network defense exercise, and currently works for Continuum's Security Division, responding to ransomware and working with clients across the globe. He is a volunteer web page developer and technical advisor for multiple establishments in the Dahlonega area, hoping to encourage local business and modernize neighborhood services. He is an active security researcher, studying multiple topics, such as Artificial Intelligence in Intrusion Detection Systems, Social Engineering and Incident Response.

Captain Michael Junge, USN is a Surface Warfare Officer and served afloat in USS MOOSBRUGGER (DD 980), USS UNDERWOOD (FFG 36), USS WASP (LHD 1), USS THE SULLIVANS (DDG 68) and was the 14th Commanding Officer of USS WHIDBEY ISLAND (LSD 41). Ashore he served with Navy Recruiting; Assault Craft Unit FOUR; Deputy Commandant for Programs and Resources, Headquarters, Marine Corps; Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Communication Networks (N6); and with the Office of the Secretary of Defense. He has written extensively with articles appearing in the United States Naval Institute Proceedings magazine, US Naval War College’s Luce.nt, and on the blog “Information Dissemination”.

Dr. C. Anthony Pfaff is the Research Professor for the Military Profession and Ethic at the U.S. Army War Colleges Strategic Studies Institute. A retired Army colonel, Dr. Pfaff recently served as Director for Iraq on the National Security Council Staff. While on active duty, he served on the Policy Planning Staff at the State Department, as the Defense Attaché in Baghdad, the Chief of International Military Affairs for US Army Central Command, and as the Defense Attaché in Kuwait. He served twice in Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, once as the Deputy J2 for a Joint Special Operations Task Force and as the Senior Military Advisor for the Civilian Police Assistance Training Team. He also served as the Senior Intelligence Officer on the Iraq Intelligence Task Force and as a UN observer along the Iraq-Kuwait border. Dr. Pfaff has a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Economics from Washington and Lee University, a master’s degree in Philosophy from Stanford University; a master’s in National Resource Management from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces; and a Doctorate in Philosophy from Georgetown University.

Mr. Aleksander Kondrusik

Bio

Aleksander KONDRUSIK is an Sargeant Cadet and student at the Military University of Land Forces in Wroclaw. He got accepted into MULF in 2015 at 19th place from 144 available, in Airmobile Corps.
During his military career he was assigned as squad leader until 2017, he performed
20 parachute jumps, took parts in training with 25th Air Cavalry Brigade and 6th Airborne Brigade and represented Academy in many strength sport events. 

Apart from studying, Aleksander enjoys sports and working with people. He is an active instructor in The Polish Scouting and Guiding Association. Also, he is a member of Bench Press Section in Military University of Land Forces, competing both in military and civilian contests.

Mr. Talifhani Ratshivhadelo

Bio

Talifhani Victor Ratshivhadelo is an undergraduate student in security and Africa studies at Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of Military Science at South African Military Academy. He served in the parachute battalion for 11 years. Ratshivhadelo successfully completed Basic Static Line Jump Course and Advance Static Line Jump Course in 2007. He is also a Rope Work Instructor and Climbing Technique qualified. He has been deployed in the United Nation’s peacekeeping mission in Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) in 2010 and was decorated for his role in the Battle of Bangui in the Central African Republic in 2013.

Abstract

Private Military Security Companies (PMSCs) is corporate bodies that provide military expertise and other professional services essential to combat and warfare to the legitimate government by providing military skills including training, planning, intelligence, operational support, recruitment and technical support. The challenge come when PMSCs sometimes find themselves using armed force in service of their employees without legal definition in domestic and international law. This challenge is a particularly relevant one in Africa where a number of PMSCs are involved in combat-type services.

Because PMSCs do not operate within their home countries, the enforcement of domestic laws is extremely difficult. The issue of the regulation of PMSCs is filled with difficulty and current regulations are vague with an emphasis on self–regulation. The option of self-regulation has raised concern especially where activities of such service may lead to or result in violation of existing rules on International Human Right and Humanitarian Law. Self-regulation by PMSCs is not sufficient to ensure the observance of international humanitarian law and human rights law by the personnel of these companies.

It is up to each state to draft and enact national legislation. South Africa has the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act 1998 which is aimed to ban mercenary activities and to regulate the provision of military assistance outside South Africa. The paper explores the importance of South African legislation of Foreign Military Assistance Acts and the challenges thereof.

Mr. Josesf Varga

Bio

I was born in Eger Hungary in 01.17.1995. I joined the Hungarian Defense Forces (HDF) in August of 2015. At the moment I attend the National University of Public Service at Budapest, to be a reconnaissance officer.
I am assigned to the following unit: Ludovika Battalion.

My military and civilian education includes the HDF Parachute level: Combat Ready, HDF First Responder, Stanag 2.2.2.2, European Computer Driving License (ECDL), driving license for civilian cars, and I am qualified to operate U.S. Army standard M115A1/F5, M1097A1, M1097A2 vehicles.

I have a big family of 5 people, my parents and my two siblings. My father is a retired homicide and economic investigator, also a Lieutenant Colonel, and I would like to follow his footsteps, and go further in the army field. In my free time, I do lots of training, some sports, like tennis and I read about history, especially wars and battles.

Mr. Thiago Mukhail Scantamburlo

Bio

My name is Thiago Mikhail Scantamburlo, I am 23 years old and was born and raised in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I had only two military relatives when I decided to join the army, my grandfather who was a sergeant of the air force ad my cousin who was an army cadet. I joined the army in 2014 after passing the test for EsPCEx that is a military preparatory school for army cadets, where you spend a year learning and adapting to the military life before going to the Agulhas Negras Military Academy (AMAN). In 2015 I was a first year cadet in AMAN, In 2016 I chose the Infantry branch and in 2017 I had the chance to do the Basic Paratrooper Course.

Abstract

The use of private military and security companies (PMSCs) has become common in conflicts over the last ten years. The United Nations has started making use of this kind of company, which are mainly used to establish the security of people and facilities and to provide training for troops. However, in some cases, these companies are employed as combat troops, what makes them stop acting as security companies and fall into the definition of mercenaries, as defined by the Additional Protocol I (AP I) to the Geneva Conventions and the UN Mercenary Convention. The objective of this paper is to examine the presence of one of these military security companies called the Wagner Group in Syria, taking into consideration their actions in the country; define whether they are acting as a security company or mercenaries in accordance with the international definitions. One hypothesis is that this company has more than two thousand men involved mainly with security for Russian bases and other military facilities in Syria. However, as the war dragged on, they started to assume a more active stance and engage in combat actions, helping the forces of President Bashar al-Assad.

Mr. Aleksandre Ugrelidze

Bio

I am Aleksandre Ugrelidze. I was born on 3rd of October, 1996 in Borjomi, Georgia. I live in Bakuriani, Borjomi’s region, with my sister, Gvantsa Ugrelidze, and parents – father, Giorgi Ugrelidze and mother, Marine Ugrelidze. We have little hotel, so my parents are self-employed. My sister is a student and a professional dancer.

I was studying in Bakuriani’s public school till 2012, then I started studying in the Cadets’ Military Lyceum and I made the decision to continue education at the National Defence Academy of Georgia and afterwards serve my country and nation.

After three years, in 2015, I passed the national exams and enrolled at NDA (National Defence Academy), my academic major is – Defence and Security studies. After finishing the second year in the academy, in 2017, I was selected to take part in the Cadets` International Week in Vilnius.
Currently, I am the graduate student of the Academy.

Abstract

One of the main challenges to international security is the ever-increasing loss of the state's monopoly on the use of the military force. This is due to the frequent use of private military companies. In the 21st century, states often use services of such companies. They are authorized by states to solve special tasks and sometimes it happens that PMCs occupy an equal position with regular armies. Moreover, such structures will play an increasingly important role in armed conflicts and wars in the future. For example, if at the beginning of the 1990s there was only one "private military contractor" for 50 regular military personnel, in 2012 this ratio dropped to 10:1. The total income of publically traded PMCs, since 2004, exceeded $100bn globally.

The availability of well-trained and experienced security and military personnel has enabled governments, intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations to avoid political limitations on the use of force. It means that anyone who has the opportunity to use the services of private military companies will apply it to fulfill their goals, but their main customers always were and will be the state governments.

The main problem, which is characteristic of private military companies, is the lack of civilian control. This is due to the fact that the activities of these companies are commercial in character, i.e., private. Also using of PMCs as a new instrument of foreign policy may cause some serious problems: the lack of human resources in the armed forces; Nepotism and/or good contacts with the government administration (There is an opinion that PMCs are using personnel contacts to get a contract from government); PMCs can avoid responsibility for the acts committed by their operators, etc.

It is very interesting that the existing conventions and agreements do not apply to private military companies, as the latter is intended only for regular army. So similar companies act in domestic regulations or ignore them altogether. It is therefore necessary to get a special document to regulate the activities of such companies. But here we encounter the problem, interference with the state or other subject in the activity of a private person. This is a violation of human rights, but at the same time it is necessary to regulate this business. The work on this problem should be continued in the future and should be involved in the agenda of international organizations.

In the near future, private military companies will still be the part of global security. It will have supporters and critics. Critics are concerned not only about the abuse of power but the transfer of state activities to private firms. The supporters want to expand the role of private companies, for example, their participation in peacekeeping operations.

Mr. Yuya Morita

Bio

Yuya Morita is a junior at the National Defense Academy of Japan. He majors in International Relations, which is based on three major disciplines-international politics＆ diplomatic history, international law, and regional studies. He is particularly interested in Private Military Security Companies and want to learn most. Because he thinks in the future, SDF will limitedly deploy PMSC to carry out the overseas missions.
In the future, he will hope for self-defense ship duty. Through PKO and the training with the many countries, he wants to contribute to a stable and prosperous future for the Asia-Pacific region.

Mr. Benjamin Falk

Bio

Ben Falk is an Officer Cadet from New Zealand. He has previous experience in the New Zealand Army, serving for 13 years with 2/1 Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment. He has returned to study after a break, balancing work with distance study through Massey University. He is currently studying towards a Bachelor of Business majoring in Human Resource Management.

Ben credits his time in the Army with gaining many life experiences and making some good friends. He considers the highlight of his career leading soldiers overseas as a Section Commander in Iraq in 2016.

Abstract

Private military security companies (PMSCs) have been growing since the 1980s. However, there has been a dearth in legislation regulating them. This creates issues where their conduct is not in keeping with their employer’s intent as there is no process for holding them to account. An international solution might involve agreed definitions of a PMSC and their roles and responsibilities.

The current situation is problematic for three reasons. Firstly, although there is current legislation it is ineffective, being aimed more at individual mercenaries. Secondly, PMSCs have no code of conduct. This means there is no clear definition of what a PMSC is or what they can do. Third, it is anti-competitive, making it difficult for emerging companies to identify the market gap and tender their service.
Governments could develop legislation to clarify the legal definition of PMSCs. This would also enable the shared monitoring of PMSCs conduct. Such reporting would allow countries to recruit PMSCs based on their reputation creating a more competitive market space. Even PMSCs have identified the need for change signing up to voluntary international conventions as a means of self-regulation.

To leave the current situation around PMSCs as it is would be irresponsible. The industry is growing rapidly and will continue to do so. Left unchecked, its current state risks undermining future military operations. PMSCs operate in an industry worth billions of dollars with no clear legal framework meaning that regulation is now urgent.

Mr. Matias Diez LeCumberry

I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in March 1994. I lived in different places around the country because my father is an Army Officer. I am currently a 1st class cadet at the Colegio Militar de la Nación in El Palomar, Buenos Aires, Argentina. I’ll become an Army Officer along with a bachelor degree in Military Sciences very soon. I am the most senior cadet of the armored branch at the Colegio Militar that is the reason why I have the rank of “NCO Cadet”. I also have the Colegio Militar’s badges of honor and another one after the Equestrian Course I took in February 2018.