Recognizing Gastón Schulmeister's Thought Leadership and Impact in Hemispheric Security

by Asher Cohen

Gastón Hernán Schulmeister, Director of the Department against Transnational Organized Crime, Organization of American States (OAS)

Gastón Hernán Schulmeister of the Organization of American States (OAS) has recently been recognized by the Life Safety Alliance (LSA) on its 2025 list of Top 40 Global Thought Leaders in Security & Life Safety. Schulmeister serves as the director of the OAS's Department against Transnational Organized Crime, leading efforts to address common security challenges and promote cooperation among member states in the Americas when confronting threats such as human trafficking, financial crimes, and illicit arms trade.

Schulmeister, an Argentine-born professional who also holds Spanish nationality, has spent much of his career as an International Specialist. He pointed out that a major challenge in pursuing international cooperation is the need to work abroad, which involves sacrificing familiar cultural customs and established support systems. Moving to the United States to serve as the departmental director for OAS presented him with the challenge of leading in an entirely new professional environment.

Recently, we spoke with Gastón about why he was motivated to join the industry, as well as his views on some of the current challenges in the global security industry.

Q: Why did you become interested in Security & Defense?

A: The same year I graduated from university with a degree in political science, the 9/11 attacks occurred. It changed the global policy landscape. For those in international relations, the historic terror attack shifted focus from economic issues to a pressing security agenda, which inspired me to pursue my career in the field.

Q: What do you think is one of the most important global challenges we should be focused on in the security industry?

A: The emergence of artificial intelligence technology is rapidly changing the way security organizations operate. For example, AI can efficiently process and organize suspicious activity reports related to money laundering, helping to streamline some of the more tedious tasks involved in monitoring illicit financial activity.

Schulmeister warned that artificial intelligence is also available to criminal groups, requiring organizations to balance technological innovation with increased vigilance to stay ahead of adversaries exploiting AI.

Q: Can you provide an example of your department's recent impact in improving security amongst member states?

A: Combatting illegal mining in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Guyana, and Suriname has been a recent focus. Specifically, OAS has created specific task forces in the region, promoted intelligence and information sharing on illegal mining between these countries, trained prosecutors in proper legal frameworks for money laundering, and trained local authorities on how to manage illicit seized assets.

Q: What is your favorite security, leadership book, publication, or podcast?

It’s difficult to choose just one, but I consistently return to a few key titles. I follow prestigious journals such as Global Crime (Taylor & Francis) for their rigorous analysis of global security trends, and at the regional level, publications like DEF Magazine have provided valuable insights in recent years on regional security challenges. I also regularly listen to podcasts from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) to stay updated on both strategic perspectives and current developments.

Q: What is your favorite security or leadership TV show, streaming series, or movie?

I would highlight ZeroZeroZero, a television series that vividly portrays the dynamics of drug trafficking and criminal organizations, their transnational reach, and the challenges faced by institutions in combating them. A powerful film is Gomorrah, which offers a raw and realistic depiction of organized crime’s influence on communities and economies, based on the perspective and testimony of journalist Roberto Saviano’s book. Beneath their dramatic narratives, both productions offer thoughtful examinations of the complexities of organized crime and the need for wide, coordinated international responses.

Q: What is your favorite security or leadership event to attend?

I enjoy events like Concordia and more specialized international forums such as the Munich Security Conference (MSC), because they bring together top leaders and foster public–private partnerships. These gatherings include government officials, representatives of international organizations, multilateral development banks, academia, and the private sector, among others.