Second year Master of International Policy (MIP) student and Center for International Trade and Security (CITS) graduate research assistant, Juan Hernandez, has been selected to participate in a project with the Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) Program.  EXBS is administered under the auspices of the Office of Export Control Cooperation, in the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, U.S. Department of State.  The EXBS Program seeks to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by helping to build effective national strategic trade control systems in countries that possess, produce, or supply strategic items, as well as in countries through which such items are most likely to transit.

Juan will spend three months abroad working directly with the Panamanian Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MICI) on implementing a new executive decree aimed at controlling dual-use items.  Juan will support the MICI staff with implementing regulations and licensing processes while providing a direct linkage to the U.S. Embassy.  Juan will return to UGA’s campus in the summer to complete the MIP program of study and graduate.