Washington, D.C. – March 31, 2025 – The Inter-American Defense College Foundation (IADCF) proudly announces the reinvestiture of its Board of Directors, reaffirming its commitment to supporting the Inter-American Defense College (IADC). Since its establishment in 2004, the IADCF has played a vital role in advancing the College’s mission and strengthening hemispheric cooperation.

Founded in 1962, the IADC is the academic arm of the Inter-American Defense Board (IADB), an independently operating entity within the Organization of American States (OAS). The IADC is hosted by the United States Government on Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington, D.C..

The newly appointed members bring a wealth of expertise in defense, security, and international affairs, further enhancing the Foundation’s impact and outreach.

“We are honored to welcome these distinguished professionals to our Board,” said Ricardo Vanella, President of the IADCF. “Their extensive experience and commitment to security and defense will be invaluable in advancing our mission and fostering stronger collaborations throughout the Americas.”

New Board Members

▶ Jeffrey Lemmons (USA)
A retired Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy Reserve, Jeffrey graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1979 and served 35 years on active and reserve duty. His final assignment was as Director of the Inter-American Defense College from 2012 to 2014. He serves as a board member and principal at Gator Pump, Inc., and consults for the Institute for Defense Analysis (IDA).

▶ Maria Cecilia Rozas (Peru)
Maria Cecilia, an ambassador and retired career diplomat from the Peruvian Diplomatic Service, is a graduate of the 35th Class of the IADC. She specializes in security, defense, environmental, and drug policy issues. She retired from her position as Peruvian Ambassador to the Dominican Republic. Before that, her roles at the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs included Director of Drug Control and Head of the General Directorate for Multilateral and Global Affairs.

▶ Inigo Guevara (USA/Mexico)
Currently, Inigo is the Managing Director of Janes Strategic Services, where he leads a global team of defense and security consultants. He has previously worked as a senior analyst at CENTRA Technology, providing intelligence support to both U.S. and foreign governments. Previously, he served as Director of Analysis at the Office of the National Security Council under the President of Mexico.

▶ Marian Caracuel (Spain)
Dr. Marian Caracuel Raya is the only Spanish Graduate (Class 47) of the Inter-American Defence College (IADC) and graduated with honors. She is the founder of the Association of Spanish Graduates in Security Issues (ADESyD) and Spanish Women in International Security (SWIIS), which was established in 2011. She has 24 years of experience with the Spanish Ministry of Defense. The Senate appointed her as a member of the Observatory for Military Affairs, with an absolute majority, which is affiliated with the Spanish Parliament (2014-2018).

▶ Vinicius Moretto (Brazil)
A Class 62 Brazilian graduate of the IADC with a Master’s Degree in Defense and Hemispheric Security, Vinicius has been an Officer with the Brazilian Federal Highway Police since 2006. He served in rewarding positions in the State of Santa Catarina and held a Commissioned Role at the National Headquarters in Brasília. In addition to the IADC degree, his academic background includes a degree in Physical Education from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (2004) and a specialization in Traffic Accident Investigation from the Federal Institute of Santa Catarina (2016).

The Foundation thanks the outgoing Board Members, MG (USA ret.) Carl Freeman and MG (Ejercito Argentina ret) Julio Hang, for their dedicated service and contributions to the IADCF’s mission. Their leadership has been instrumental in shaping the organization’s efforts to promote education and foster international cooperation in defense and security.

The Inter-American Defense College Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the educational mission of the Inter-American Defense College (IADC). The Foundation fosters professional development, academic excellence, and collaboration among defense and security professionals across the Americas.

For more information about the IADCF and its initiatives, please visit https://iadcf.org/ or contact Kathryn Phillips at kathryn.phillips@iadc.edu  /  +1 (202) 314 2804.