WIIS Florida is currently inactive. If you have any questions or suggestions for WIIS Florida, please contact Amy Frumin at [email protected] or Nate Barrick at [email protected].
About
The state of Florida is far more important than just one out of fifty states when it comes to understanding Florida’s role in national and international security issues.
Florida has an outsized role in U.S. and international security based on the number of headquarters and military bases in the state. Florida is home to the headquarters for three of the nine 4-star-led Unified Commands in the United States military. US Central Command, which oversees military operations throughout most the Middle East and Central Asia, and US Special Operations Command, which oversee all special operations globally, are located at MacDill Air Force Base in the Tampa area; and US Southern Command, overseeing military operations in Latin America, is located in Doral, in the Miami area. Additionally, there are over thirty military installations in the state and approximately 51,000 active duty military serving alongside about 54,000 Reserve and National Guard personnel. The government civilian component of these organizations is significant. The exact percentage of leadership positions held by women in these organizations and the defense contractors that support them is unknown, but WIIS-Florida will work to improve the visibility and numbers of women in leadership roles.
In addition to the military and defense industry presence in Florida, there is a significant global influence and impact from Florida in terms of the Space industry (NASA), Entertainment and Tourism industries (theme parks, cruise lines, music), and other interests like wilderness conservation, disaster management, nuclear energy, and immigration. Florida’s share of U.S. trade volume averages about 4{5f0f57c44bc297437706deade099e6516fe1db1b31ab604b564d60e47f160dcd} in both Exports and Imports over the past few years. Nearly a quarter of the jobs in Florida can be connected to international trade, distribution and its spinoff industries.
In the Education sector, Florida is home to several major, internationally acclaimed universities. These universities have world-leading research and development capabilities, as well as significant contributions to civil society, human rights, race, gender, and international security studies.
Florida may be the Sunshine State in a well-earned nickname, but there’s an opportunity and a foundation in our state to be a leading light for the empowerment of Women in International Security.
Leadership
Amy Frumin, President
Amy B. Frumin is a strategic planner and works on issues in the Middle East and South and Central Asia as an associate for Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH). Ms. Frumin focuses on stability and countering violent extremism. As an independent consultant, Amy designed and executed trainings for U.S. military and civilian personnel preparing to deploy to Afghanistan. Training topics included understanding the underlying causes of conflict, the Afghan Government structures, and the role of civilians on the battlefield. Prior to working as a consultant, Amy was an international affairs fellow in residence at the Council on Foreign Relations where she wrote and commented on the international humanitarian relief regime, Afghanistan, and the efficacy the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)’s work in unstable environments. Ms. Frumin returned from Panjshir, Afghanistan in 2007 where she was the USAID representative to the Provincial Reconstruction Team. As one of three civilians on this mostly U.S. Air Force team, Ms. Frumin managed the USAID portfolio and offered the development perspective to project discussions with the military and the Department of State. Prior to working in Afghanistan, Ms. Frumin covered Latin America for USAID’s Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI). From 2000-2001, Ms. Frumin worked as a political affairs officer in the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General for the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations Mission in Kosovo. Amy also worked for UNICEF’s Office of Emergency Operations. Additionally, she has been published by and worked for several think tanks, including the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the United Nations Association for the USA, and the World Policy Institute at the New School in New York City. Amy founded Women in International Security (WIIS) Chapter in Florida in 2014 and is the current president of WIIS-Florida. Ms. Frumin earned her BA in political science with a minor in international development at McGill University and her Masters of Science in Development Studies from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Amy is married with two daughters.
Nathan Barrick, Advisory BoardNathan “Nate” Barrick has over twenty-five years of experience in Military, National Security, Intelligence, Security Cooperation, Diplomacy and International Affairs. He has published and testified before Congressional committees. He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy and Stanford University. Nate has consulted with numerous businesses seeking opportunities in Central Asia and the Middle East, as well as providing subject matter expertise in a variety of academic and professional fora. Nate is married to Sandra Barrick; they have six children (4 daughters), five of them in college; they reside in Riverview, Florida.
Hightlights
Events
Gayle Lemmon, Ashley’s War
Date: May 18, 2015
Time: 3:30 – 4:40 pm EDT
Location: Port Tampa Library in Tampa, Florida
WIIS Florida hosted a discussion with Gayle Tzemach Lemmon about her new release, Ashley’s War, which details the experiences of a team of women soldiers deployed alongside Special Operations forces.The event concluded with a brief book signing. Read more about Ashley’s War in the latest article here.
Women and Jihad
Date: April 6, 2015
Time: 3:00 – 5:00 pm EDT
Location: Tampa, Florida
The United States and other international actors are increasingly attentive to the different roles women play in violent extremism. This roundtable discussion on April 6, 2015 examined why women join violent extremists groups and the roles they play in ISIS and affiliated jihadists groups in Iraq, Syria and Yemen. In addition, panelists examined the roles of women and women’s organizations in preventative efforts.