With the aim of promoting a networked government response to national security issues, the Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS) and the National Security Co-ordination Secretariat (NSCS), part of Singapore's Prime Minister's Office, co-organizes an annual Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO).

Customarily held in April, APPSNO provides participants from the Asia-Pacific and beyond an opportunity to interact and learn about developments related to national security matters. International experts on homeland security have been invited to speak on topics such as "The Challenge of Homeland Security in the 21st Century", "Protecting the City: Observation and Lessons from New York", "Developing a Whole-of-Government Approach to Homeland Security" and “Designing a Crisis Resilient Organization”.

The prominent speakers have included: Lord John Alderdice, a member of the UK House of the Lords and Professor Gerd Gigerenzer, director of the Max Planck Institute of Human Development in Berlin.

APPSNO aims to become an important tool for promoting the analytical frameworks, mindsets and skills needed for effective national security management. The programme also includes a closed phase that focuses on national security issues pertinent to local officers.