![]() Marshall Center Seal | |
Agency overview | |
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Formed | 1993 |
Jurisdiction | Government of Germany, United States Government |
Headquarters | Gernackerstrasse 2, 82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen |
Motto | Democratia per fidem et concordiam (Democracy through trust and friendship) |
Parent agency | Department of Defense, Defense Security Cooperation Agency, German Defense Ministry |
Website | Marshall Center |
The George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies is a bi-national United States Department of Defense[1] and Federal Ministry of Defence (Germany)[2] security and defense studies institute. When the Marshall Center was founded in 1993, its mission was to create a more stable security environment by advancing democratic institutions and relationships, especially in the field of defense; promoting active, peaceful, security cooperation; and enhancing enduring partnerships among the nations of North America, Europe, and Eurasia. As of Oct. 1, 2014, the Marshall Center's regional mission changed to a transnational one based on an Office of the Secretary of Defense directive to change from a European to a global participants' base.
The current mission of the Marshall Center is to enable solutions to regional and transnational security challenges through capacity building, access, and a globally connected network.[3] The Marshall Center conducts a variety of unique programs involving to date more than 14,000 officials from more than 157 countries.[3]
Most programs are taught in English.[3]
The Marshall Center is named after American statesman and soldier Gen. George Catlett Marshall, Jr. After World War II and in his service as Secretary of State, Marshall advocated a significant U.S. economic and political commitment to post-war European recovery, often referred to as the Marshall Plan – a plan that saved millions of Europeans from starvation and Soviet domination.[3]
The Marshall Center is co-located with the Armed Forces Recreation Center's Edelweiss Lodge and Resort, a U.S. Department of Defense owned hotel in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. Located in the Bavarian Alps near the Austrian border, the Edelweiss opened in September 2004. Both the Marshall Center and the Edelweiss are supported by the U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria-Military Community Garmisch,[4] which falls under Army Installation Management Command-Europe.[5]