National Defense University Welcomes Distinguished Lecturer
Lieutenant General Frances C. Wilson, USMC, President, National Defense University, welcomes Dr. Mowaffak Al-Rubaie, National
Security Advisor to the Iraqi Government, on January 7, 2008. Dr. Al-Rubaie addressed the combined classes of the National War College
and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces as part of the President's Distinguished Lecture Program.
National Defense University Holds Annual Holiday Fest
The National Defense University annual Holiday Fest was held in the Marshall Hall Atrium on December 19, 2008. Special holiday
entertainment was provided by the children's chorus from the Oak Ridge Elementary School located in Arlington, Virginia.
Minister of Defence of the Republic of Macedonia Visits the National Defense University
The Minister of Defence of the Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Zoran Konjanovski, is welcomed to the National Defense University by Lieutenant
General Frances C. Wilson, USMC, President, on December 11, 2008.
International Fellows Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
The International Student Management Office hosted an International Fellows Hall of Fame induction ceremony for Major General Benjamin "Benny" Gantz, a 1998 graduate of the National Defense University’s Industrial College of the Armed Forces (ICAF). General Gantz formerly served at the Chief of the Ground Forces Command, Israeli Defence Forces General Staff, and currently serves as the Israeli Defense and Armed Forces Attaché to the United States and Canada. The induction ceremony was held on Thursday, December 11, 2008, at the National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
From left to right, Lieutenant General Frances C. Wilson, USMC, NDU President; Ambassador Richard Roth, NDU Senior Vice President;
Major General Benjamin "Benny" Gantz, Israeli Defense and Armed Forces Attaché to the United States and Canada; Rear Admiral Gerry Hall, USN,
Commandant, Industrial College of the Armed Forces; and Colonel (Ret) John C. Charlton, USAF, Director, International Student Management
Office.
Lieutenant General Frances C. Wilson, USMC, NDU President, presents the International Fellows Hall of Fame citation to Major
General Benjamin "Benny" Gantz, Israeli Defense and Armed Forces Attaché to the United States and Canada.
Ambassador Richard Roth, NDU Senior Vice President, presents the International Fellows Hall of Fame plaque to Major General
Benjamin "Benny" Gantz, Israeli Defense and Armed Forces Attaché to the United States and Canada.
Rear Admiral Gerry Hall, USN, Commandant, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, and Major General Benjamin "Benny" Gantz, Israeli
Defense and Armed Forces Attaché to the United States and Canada, unveils the official portrait for the NDU International Fellows Hall of
Fame.
Admiral Thomas H. Moorer Military Energy Security Forum
The National Defense University's third annual Admiral Thomas Moorer Military Energy Security Forum, "Energy and the Pillars of American
Power" was held on December 9, 2008, at Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington, D.C. NDU’s Center for Technology and National Security
Policy (CTNSP) hosted an exciting group of speakers who discussed the new Department of Defense energy security strategy, the role of
science and technology in energy security, and energy as a U.S. national security issue. Lieutenant General Frances C. Wilson, USMC,
President of the National Defense University, gave opening remarks. The keynote speaker was Dr. Leon Fuerth, Professor at The Elliot
School of International Affairs. For further information on the Center for Technology and National Security Policy, go to
http://www.ndu.edu/ctnsp/home.html
Chilean ANEPE Visits the National Defense University
Major General Carlos Stuardo and students of the Chilean National Academy of Political and Strategic Studies (ANEPE)
visited the National Defense University on November 19, 2008.
Conference on Russian Forces Modernization held at the National Defense University
The Center for Technology and National Security Policy (CTNSP), in cooperation with the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for
Forces Transformation and Resources (OUSD-P), hosted a seminar on Transforming National Security, “Russian Forces Modernization:
Implications for U.S. Force Structure and Strategy,” on November 17-18, 2008, at the National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair,
Washington, D.C. The aim of this event was to assess Russian military capabilities and future modernization plans by examining Russia’s
doctrine and strategic posture, exploring the major challenges to its separate services, and discussing the implications its actions will
have on U.S. force structure planning. An important portion of the conference was devoted to discussing America’s role in shaping Russia’s
path to military modernization. For further information on future Center for Technology and National Security Policy events, go to
http://www.ndu.edu/ctnsp/home.html
Living in Many Worlds - Native American Heritage Program
The National Defense University Multi-Cultural Committee (NDU-MCC)
hosted a commemoration program for Native American Heritage Month
on Monday, 10 November 2008, at Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington
D.C. The guest speaker was Ms. Lillian A. Sparks, Esquire, the Executive
Director of the National Indian Education Association, Washington,
D.C. For her complete biography, click
here. For further information on the National Indian Education
Association, click
here. The program included entertainment and an ethnic food
sampling. For further information on this or other multi-cultural
programs, click here.
Book Launch, The U.S. Military Intervention in Panama, by Lawrence A. Yates
The National Defense University's Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) hosted a book launch of The U.S. Military Intervention in Panama: Origins, Planning, and Crisis Management, June 1987-December 1989, by, Dr. Lawrence A. Yates, at the National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. The U.S. Military Intervention in Panama focuses on U.S. Southern Command in the months immediately prior to Operation JUST CAUSE. By examining the complex relationships between a U.S. combatant command and the policy community in Washington, D.C., Dr. Yates draws crucial lessons from high-level crisis management and policy formulation. Much of Dr. Yates study focuses on the effects of administration policies and the demands of a steadily worsening local situation.
National Defense University Launches Chief Financial Officer Academy
The National Defense University’s Information Resources Management (IRM) College, in partnership with the Under Secretary of Defense
(Comptroller)/Chief Financial Officer, has announced the creation of the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Academy. Located at the Fort
Lesley J. McNair National Defense University (NDU) campus in Washington, D.C., the Academy will offer management and leadership courses
leading to a CFO Leadership Certificate. The program was formally launched in September 2008. The CFO Academy was established with
the endorsement of the Federal CFO Council. According to Dr. Robert D. Childs, Senior Director of the IRM College, “The CFO academy will
draw students from across the federal financial community. Together they will learn how to most effectively and efficiently use
government resources and work across boundaries to achieve national security goals.” Program enrollment is open now for selected courses.
For more information about the Chief Financial Officer Academy, click here.
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From left to right, the Honorable Clay Johnson III, Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget; the Honorable Tina W. Jonas, Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller); Lieutenant General Frances C. Wilson, USMC, President, National Defense University; and Dr. Robert D. Childs, Director, Information Resources Management College, National Defense University.
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America’s People… America’s Talent… America’s Strength!!
The National Defense University commemorated National Disability Employment Awareness
Month on October 21, 2008, at Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington,
D.C. The guest speaker was Ms. Christine M. Griffin, Commissioner,
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. As Commissioner, Ms.
Griffin heads the LEAD initiative: Leadership for the Employment
of Americans with Disabilities. Click here
for her biography. On September 17, 2008, the U.S. House of Representatives
passed by voice vote the Senate version of the Americans with Disabilities
Act Amendments Act of 2008. S.3406. The amendments will go into
effect on 1 January 2009. Join us for a discussion on these amendments
and the rulings that have been affected by this passage. For further
information on this or any other Multi-Cultural Committee program,
email here.
Institute for National Strategic Studies 2008 Topical Symposium - Meeting Complex Challenges through National Security Reform
The National Defense University’s Institute for National Strategic Studies hosted a two-day symposium October 16-17, 2008, at the National Defense University. Historic events have preceded each of the major reforms to the architecture of U.S. National Security: the National Security Act of 1947 after World War II, the Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986 in the wake of Vietnam and post-Vietnam uses of force, and the creation of the Department of Homeland Defense and reorganization of the intelligence community after September 11, 2001. Since the last round of reforms, significant efforts have been made by various organizations and commissions to analyze the current structure and operations of the national security organization as it is today. Some have been narrowly focused, others more broad and encompassing. The next administration will have no shortage of advice pouring in from a myriad of commissions and think tanks. The purpose of this symposium was to preview some of those efforts with the intent of better understanding whether and how reform is possible. This symposium assembled key scholars, officials, and practitioners to discuss the prospects of national security reform. Also addressed were the key implications for the Department of Defense and other agencies involved with the security of our nation and national security policy development for the coming years. Featured speakers included military officers, government officials, and experts from research institutes. If you have any questions about this or future events, please call 202-685-3857 or emailConferences@ndu.edu.
CTNSP Symposium, “Words and Deeds: Strategic Communication in Complex Operations”
In conjunction with the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Stability Operations
Capabilities, the National Defense University’s Center for Technology and National Security Policy (CTNSP) hosted a two-day seminar on “Words and Deeds: Strategic Communication in Complex Operations” on October 14-15, 2008. This seminar addressed the links between actions and communication, between perception and culture, between technology and information, and between public affairs for domestic audiences and information operations for foreign audiences. For information on future seminars, email CTNSP-NCO@ndu.edu.
Defense Threat Reduction Conference held at the National Defense
University
The National Defense University’s Center for the Study of Weapons
of Mass Destruction (CSWMD) and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency
co-hosted a conference on October 2, 2008, on Defense Threat Reduction:
The First and Next Ten Years. On October 1, 1998, the Defense Threat
Reduction Agency (DTRA) came into existence to consolidate the defense
threat reduction activities of several U.S. defense agencies and
to lend greater coherence and force to the Department of Defense
contributions to the national effort to reduce the threats posed
by weapons of mass destruction (WMD). DTRA works closely with intra-agency,
inter-agency, and international partners to accomplish its mission.
Much has been accomplished, and much remains to be done. This day-long
conference brought together current and former senior officials
and experts to help the defense threat reduction community to consider
the lessons of the first decade and to offer ideas on how defense
threat reduction can most effectively be pursued over the next ten
years. For further information or questions about this or other
symposiums, please email here.
For more information on the WMD
Center, visit the WMD Center website.
Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies Director Announces William J. Perry Awards for Excellence in Defense Education
Dr. Richard D. Downie, Director of the Center for Hemispheric Defense
Studies (CHDS) located at Fort Leslie J. McNair, has announced that
the winners of the second annual William J. Perry Awards for Excellence
in Defense Education are Colombian President Alvaro Uribe (individual
category) and the Chilean Academia Nacional de Estudios Políticos
y Estratégicos, or ANEPE (institutional category). The presentation
of the awards took place in mid-September; and retired General Wesley
Clark, U.S. Army, a former commander of the U.S. Southern Command
as well as Supreme Allied Commander Europe, served as master of
ceremonies. This award is named after former U.S. Secretary of Defense
William J. Perry whose vision resulted in the founding of CHDS.
"We are extraordinarily pleased to have as this year's winners of
the Perry Award, a Latin American president who has given lift to
the driving dream of democratic security, and to a sister institution
whose mission and cadre of experts have done so much to consolidate
sound civil-military relations and critical awareness of current
and future security and defense challenges, in Chile and around
the hemisphere," Downie said. "With this award, we celebrate a new
era in Colombia, and the many accomplishments of our common neighbor
to the south." The Center, which has had close academic ties with
the National Defense University (NDU) since its founding, has been
intimately involved in creating expertise and cooperative initiatives
in subjects ranging from civil-military relations, defense policy
formulation, resource allocation and management, to the nexus between
international terrorist organizations and organized crime. For further
information, go to the Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies website,
www.ndu.edu/chds/.
Secretary of Defense Visits the National Defense University
The Honorable Robert M. Gates, Secretary of Defense, addressed students of the National War College (NWC) and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces (ICAF) on Monday, September 29, 2008, on “The 2008 National Defense Strategy.” Lieutenant Colonel Julie Noto, U.S. Air Force, an ICAF student, made the introduction to the student body.
The speech is on line at http://www.defenselink.mil/speeches/speech.aspx?speechid=1279.
Secretary Gates’ biography can be seen at www.defenselink.mil/bios/biographydetail.aspx?biographyid=115.
Hispanic Americans - Getting Involved: Our Families, Our Community, Our Nation
The National Defense University Multi-Cultural Committee (NDU-MCC),
led by Ms. Carol L. Stiner, Chair, commemorated Hispanic Heritage
Month on Tuesday, September 23, 2008. The guest speaker was Mr.
Milton Belardo, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of Civil Rights,
U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C. The program included
a welcome by Mr. Jose R. Torres, Librarian for the Center for
Hemispheric Studies; Invocation and Benediction by Chaplain (Major)
Ladislao Hernandez, US Army; introduction of the speaker by Lieutenant
Colonel Robert C. Korte, US Air Force, Student, Industrial College
of the Armed Forces; and closing remarks by Mr. Oscar Hernandez,
Passport/Visa Agent, NDU. The official program ended with entertainment
and an ethnic food sampling.
National Defense University hosted "Web 2.0" Symposium on 19 September 2008
The Assistant Secretary of Defense (Networks and Information Integration)/DOD CIO and the Information Resources Management College (IRMC) at the National Defense University co-hosted a symposium, “Government 2.0 and Beyond…Harnessing Collective Intelligence,” on 19 September 2008. Attendees at the half-day event explored the social implications and the impact of globalization of the web as a platform rather than an application. This paradigm shift, referred to as “Web 2.0,” enables us to leverage customer self-service and data management to access the entire web. It is about building communities and the “wisdom of crowds” where participation among users adds value by harnessing collective intelligence. Through a variety of presentations and perspectives on how Web 2.0 is growing in importance as a service-oriented, cost-effective model, the symposium explored the environments in which the next generations of the web can operate and change government. For further information, contact Dr. Paulette Robinson at robinsonp@ndu.edu.This event will be live video streamed to a website and the IRM College Government Center in Second Life. Instructions for access to the stream will be posted to the Live Broadcast section of the 20th Anniversary homepage at http://www.ndu.edu/irmc/anniv.html no later than 15 September 2008.
Forces Transformation and Resources Seminar hosted by the the Center for Technology and National Security Policy
The Center for Technology and National Security Policy (CTNSP) at the National Defense University hosted a seminar on “Structuring the Force: Finding and Funding the Right Mix,” on 18 September 2008. Subjects addressed included High and Low Intensity Operations, the coming budget crunch, and an afternoon panel of retired military senior leadership. For further information about future CTNSP seminars,
email CTNSP-NCO@ndu.edu.
Joint Forces Staff College Welcomes New Commandant
Brigadier General Katherine “Kate” Kasun, U.S. Army Reserves, became the 28th Commandant of the Joint Forces Staff College (JFSC) on Monday, September 15, 2008. Lieutenant General Frances C. Wilson, U.S. Marine Corps, President of the National Defense University, officiated at the assumption of command ceremony which was held in the MacArthur Auditorium, Normandy Hall, at the Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia. The following day, JFSC’s new Commandant held her first “All Hands Call." For many JFSC personnel, this was the first opportunity to hear directly from BG Kate Kasun. “JFSC is shaping leaders that make tough calls. We are, in effect, arming them with the tools they need to respond, fight, and win. The stakes are high.” She also said that trust is her favorite currency, perseverance her yardstick, and the utmost health and safety of everyone at the college is her priority. For BG Kasun’s bio, Click here .
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From left to right, Lieutenant General Frances C. Wilson,
USMC, President, National Defense University; Brigadier
General Katherine Kasun, USAR, Commandant, Joint Forces
Staff College; Colonel J. J. Frazier, Chief of Staff,
Joint Forces Staff College; and Chaplain (Lieutenant Commander)
Mark Winward, USN, Joint Forces Staff College.
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General Colin L. Powell, United States Army (Retired), Speaks to Students of National Defense University
General Colin L. Powell, United States Army (Retired), former Secretary
of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, addressed the
students of the National Defense University as part of the university's
Distinguished Lecture Program on September 15, 2008. General Powell
gave reflections on his leadership and policies to the audience
comprised of students from the military, civilian agencies, and
several international countries. Following the presentation, General
Powell, a graduate of the City College of New York (CCNY), met with
visiting students from CCNY in the Special Collections Room during
the students' visit to the National Defense University.
President George W. Bush Speaks to Students
of National Defense University
Washington (September 9, 2008) - President George
W. Bush addressed the students of the National Defense University
today as part of the university's Distinguished Lecture Program.
The President set forth his plans for a troop reduction in Iraq
and a troop augmentation in Afghanistan to an audience comprised
of students from the military, civilian agencies, and several
international countries.
Institute for National Strategic Studies Director's Strategy Roundtable Featured Ms. Kimberly Dozier, Journalist and Author
The National Defense University's Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) hosted a Director's Strategy Roundtable, "Breathing the
Fire," on September 8, 2008, at the National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. The featured speaker was
Ms. Kimberly Dozier, award-winning journalist and author. Ms. Dozier has covered Iraq and the Middle East extensively for the CBS Evening
News, The Early Show, and CBS Radio News. Her recently released book, Breathing the Fire: Fighting to Report - and Survive - the War in
Iraq, is an account of the journey of America’s combat injured as told through her own experience recovering from a car bomb attack in
Iraq on Memorial Day 2006. The INSS Director's Strategy Roundtable series is intended to stimulate dialogue about salient ideas affecting
U.S. security through informal seminars with new authors, researchers, and practitioners. Participants are drawn from the Institute, the
National Defense University and the wider national security community. For questions on future roundtables, please email
INSS-RSVP@ndu.edu.
Joint Forces Staff College Dedicates Distance Learning Center to Former POW
On Wednesday, August 13, 2008, the National Defense University’s Joint Forces Staff College (JFSC) in Norfolk, Virginia, dedicated
their Distance Learning Center to Rear Admiral Jeremiah A. Denton, Jr., United States Navy (retired), a Vietnam prisoner of war,
former Commandant, and Senator from Alabama. As a Naval Aviator during the Vietnam War, he was shot down July 18, 1965, and held
as a POW for seven and a half years. Released from captivity in 1973, he became the Commandant of the then-Armed Forces Staff College
the following year. RADM Denton spoke about the JFSC motto “That All May Labor As One.” Recalling his years of captivity,
he said all the POWs had to work as one in order to survive. The dedication was attended by a number of other Vietnam-era POW’s.
For the full article, click here.
National Defense University Professor and Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies Deputy Director Selected to Attend the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology 2008-09 Seminar XXI Program
Colonel Thomas Barth, U.S. Army, Associate Dean of Faculty at the National Defense University's National War College (NWC), and
Mr. Kenneth LaPlante, Deputy Director of the Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies (CHDS) located at Fort Lesley J. McNair,
Washington, D.C., have been selected to participate in Seminar XXI, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology educational program
for senior military officers, government and non-government officials, and executives in the national security policy community.
Now in its 21st year, this professional development program is designed to support National Security Objectives by broadening the
understanding and critical thinking skills of participants with regard to international relations theories and their implications
for politics, the economy, and society in foreign countries. The seminar explores the implications of these competing interpretations
of national aims and behavior for U.S. foreign and military policy. A second principle goal of the seminar is to strengthen
interagency relationships. Seminar XXI began in 1986 as an experimental program adapted from several graduate-level courses taught
at MIT. Over the years it has provided an opportunity for frank and challenging exchanges of ideas between policymakers and university
scholars, as well as among the Fellows, who themselves represent a wide range of institutions and organizations in the policy-making
community.
Center for Technology and National Security Policy 2008 Seminar Series on Stability Operations
The National Defense University's Center for Technology and National Security Policy (CTNSP) hosted a seminar on "Economic Rehabilitation
in Conflict and Counterinsurgency," on July 30-31, 2008, at the National Defense University (NDU), Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington,
D.C. This seminar addressed the challenges of restoring the livelihoods of local populations both during and after conflict and insurgency.
It explored the links between economic security and stability as well as the links between economic opportunity and insurgency. What
are the most effective ways to revitalize local economies, not necessarily to western liberal market standards, but with a view toward local
traditions and the need for stability? While not overlooking the importance of macroeconomic stability, the seminar focused particularly
on economic rehabilitation at the local level and getting people back to work or into sustainable livelihoods. It explored difficult
issues of local employment generation, such as access to capital, especially small and medium business loans and microfinance, the
rehabilitation of state-owned enterprises, local contracting by U.S. and foreign donors, and private investment in unstable societies.
What is the most efficient way for the United States and other donors to spend resources, locate local contractors, and encourage private
investment? Are there additional government tools needed to encourage private investment in post-conflict countries? The seminar brought
together representatives of private companies who have operated in unstable environments to discuss their experiences and recommendations.
It examined new initiatives by government agencies to vet local companies and form partnerships with U.S., regional, and other countries.
The seminar was open to NDU faculty, staff, and other interested individuals. For the agenda, click here.
For further information about upcoming CTNSP seminars, email CTNSP-NCO@ndu.edu.
National Defense University Seminar, "China's
Role in Asia: Access and Anti-Access"
The Institute of National Strategic Studies (INSS) and the Center for Technology and National Security Policy (CTNSP) hosted a two-day
seminar on "China's Role in Asia: Access and Anti-Access," July 24-25, 2008, at the National Defense University, Fort Lesley J.
McNair, Washington, D.C. Discussions focused primarily on China's strategy toward Asia and the impact of the People's Liberation Army
transformation on Asia and the rest of the world. China's rapid military modernization poses profound security challenges for the
region. What influence will Chinese regional strategies and increasing military capabilities have on the political, economic and strategic
landscape? How can the United States deal with these challenges? These and other issues provided the basis for the discussions. For
information on future seminars, go to http://www.ndu.edu/CTNSP.
Institute for National Strategic Studies Director's
Strategy Roundtable
The National Defense University's Institute for National Strategic
Studies (INSS) hosted a Director's Strategy Roundtable, "Military
Leadership Since the End of the Cold War," on July 16, 2008,
at the National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington,
D.C. The featured speaker was Admiral Dennis Blair, USN (Ret),
the former Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Pacific Command. As
the senior U.S. military commander in the Pacific and Indian Ocean
areas from February 1999 to May 2002, he led the largest of the
unified commands and directed Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air
Force operations across more than 100 million square miles. Admiral
Blair served as the Director of the Joint Staff, in budget and
policy positions on several major Navy staffs, and on the National
Security Council staff. He was the first Associate Director of
Central intelligence for Military Support. Admiral Blair retired
from the U.S. Navy in 2002 and is a former President of the Institute
for Defense Analyses (IDA) in Washington, D.C. He currently serves
as a consultant to IDA and leads various advisory committees for
the Department of Defense. The INSS Director's Strategy Roundtable
series is intended to stimulate dialogue about salient ideas affecting
U.S. security through informal seminars with new authors, researchers
and practitioners. Participants are drawn from the Institute,
the National Defense University and the wider national security
community. Space is limited, reservations are required. To make
a reservation or for other questions for future roundtables, please
email INSS-RSVP@ndu.edu.
Institute for National Strategic Studies Director's Strategy Roundtable
The National Defense University's Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) hosted a Director's Strategy Roundtable,
"Building Adaptive Leaders," on July 8, 2008, at the National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. The featured
speakers were Brigadier General Jim Warner, USA (Ret), President of the Army Civilian University, and Major Don Vandergriff, USA (Ret),
a contractor in support of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command. BG Warner, during his distinguished career on active duty, was
inter alia Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Director for Strategic Plans and Policy at U.S. Joint Forces
Command, and the Chief Executive at the Army's Command and Staff College. Major Vandergriff specializes in junior leader education,
training, and personnel management and is the author of Raising the Bar: Creating and Nurturing Adaptability to Deal with the Changing
Face of War and The Path to Victory: America's Army and the Revolution in Human Affairs. The INSS Director's Strategy Roundtable series
is intended to stimulate dialogue about salient ideas affecting U.S. security through informal seminars with new authors, researchers and
practitioners. Participants are drawn from the Institute, the National Defense University and the wider national security community.
Space is limited and reservations are required. For information on future roundtables, email INSS-RSVP@ndu.edu. Admiral Dennis Blair,
USN (Ret), will address "Military Leadership Since the End of the Cold War" on July 16, 2008, at the University.
Institute for National Strategic Studies Director's
Strategy Roundtable
The National Defense University's Institute for National Strategic
Studies (INSS) hosted a Director's Strategy Roundtable, "African
Security in Context," on June 26, 2008, at the National Defense
University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. The featured
speaker was Dr. Gérard Prunier, a French academic and historian
specializing in the Horn of Africa and East Africa. He received
a PhD in African history in 1981 from the University of Paris. In
1984, he joined the CNRS scientific institution in Paris as a researcher.
He later became Director of the French Centre for Ethiopian Studies
in Addis Ababa. Dr. Prunier has published widely, including at least
five books. The INSS Director's Strategy Roundtable series is intended
to stimulate dialogue about salient ideas affecting U.S. security
through informal seminars with new authors, researchers and practitioners.
Participants are drawn from the Institute, the National Defense
University and the wider national security community. Space is limited,
reservations are required. To make a reservation for future roundtables
or for other questions, email INSS-RSVP@ndu.edu. Future roundtables
will include Brigadier General James Warner, USA (Ret), and Major
Don Vandergriff, USA (Ret), speaking on "Building Adaptive
Leadership" on July 8, 2008, and Admiral Dennis Blair, USN
(Ret), addressing "Military Leadership Since the End of the
Cold War" on July 16, 2008.
Stability Operations Seminar, "Are We
Outsourcing Our National Security, " Held June 18-19, 2008
On June 18-19, 2008, in conjunction with the Deputy Assistant
Secretary of Defense for Stability Operations Capabilities, the
Center for Technology and National Security Policy (CTNSP) hosted
a seminar, "Are We Outsourcing Our National Security?"
This seminar dealt with the challenges of the increasing use of
contractors to perform tasks at one time performed by military
or other government personnel. It examined the use of contractors
not only by the Department of Defense and the military, but by
other agencies such as the Department of State, the U.S. Agency
for International Development, the Department of Justice, and
the Department of Homeland Security. It reviewed the history and
reasons for the use of contractors, military downsizing, and civilian
agency outsourcing since the Vietnam War. For more information,
go to http://www.ndu.edu/ctnsp/StabOps_course.htm)
National Defense University Graduation Held
June 12, 2008
The 2008 National Defense University graduation was held on Thursday,
June 12th, at 10:00 a.m., at Fort Lesley J. McNair in southwest
Washington, D.C., when 576 students from the Industrial College
of the Armed Forces, the College of International Security Affairs, and the National War College participated in the ceremony
in front of historic Roosevelt Hall. General James E. Cartwright,
USMC, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was the graduation
speaker. He is the eighth vice chairman and the nation's second
highest ranking military officer. Dr. William J. Perry, a former
Secretary of Defense, received the honorary degree of Doctor of
National Security Affairs, Honoris Causa. Dr. Perry served as
the 19th Secretary of Defense from 1994 to 1997, and is an expert
in U.S. foreign policy, national security, and arms control. For
more information on the graduation, click here.
Institute for National Strategic Studies -
2008 Joint Operations Symposium: Strategic Re-Assessment: From
Long-Range Planning to Future Strategy and Forces
On June 4-5, 2008, the Institute for National Strategic Studies,
in cooperation with the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and
U.S. Joint Forces Command, hosted a symposium, Strategic Re-Assessment:
From Long-Range Planning to Future Strategy and Forces, at Fort
Lesley J. McNair in Washington, D.C. Fundamental to the development
and implementation of a successful future defense posture is a foundation
comprised of a well-reasoned assessment of the future security environment,
a clear understanding of the "realm of the possible" for
and limitations of military forces, and an understanding of the
nation's security objectives. There is no shortage of assessments.
The objectives of this symposium was to examine some of these strategic
assessments, review our success at incorporating their key elements
into strategic and operational plans, and propose ways to institutionalize
best practices into the process for future force development and
joint force planning. These issues were explored through a series
of panel discussions and keynote addresses. Featured speakers included
military officers, government officials, and experts from research
institutes. Confirmed speakers included both the Commander and Deputy
Commander of U.S. Joint Forces Command. For more information, click
here Joint
Symposium Registration, (http://www.ndu.edu/inss/symposia/joint2008/index.htm).
Interagency Transformation Education & Analysis - Washington
Symposium Summer 2008: Interagency Coordination Symposium
On May 20-22, 2008, the Interagency Transformation, Education, and
Analysis (ITEA) program hosted an Interagency Coordination Symposium
at the National Defense University. These symposia provide a forum
for interagency community members--government employees (GS-13 through
GS-15, O-5/O-6, and equivalents) and representatives from non-governmental
organizations, industry, and academia in policy or planning positions--to
interact and learn about each other's roles, responsibilities, and
organizational capabilities. Panel presentations, discussions, and
exercises illustrate the importance of coordination and collaboration
in crisis planning and response. For more information on future
symposia, click
here.
Center for the Study of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) –
Symposium 2008: “WMD Proliferation and Use:
Have We Been Effective, Lucky, or Overly Concerned?”
The Center for the Study of Weapons of Mass Destruction, National Defense University,
held its eighth annual two-day symposium May 7-8, 2008, at the National Defense University,
Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. This symposium examined why our worst fears about WMD
proliferation and use have not beed realized to date. WMD-armed rogue states and terrorists
have been identified as a grave threat to the nation's security and a great effort has been made to
combat this threat. Against this backdrop of acute concern and robust activity, WMD proliferation has
retreated in some areas even as it has advanced in others, and incidents of WMD use have been rare
and of limited consequence. Has this resulted primarily from the effectiveness of our efforts to combat
a threat that is as serious as we fear? Or has it been more a matter of luck than skill - and is it just
a matter of time before the inadequacy of our efforts to deter and defeat this serious threat will be exposed?
Or, have we been overly-concerned about the threat - and over-reacted to it to the detriment of other
interests? These questions were addressed by distinguished speakers representing multiple viewpoints,
from both inside and outside government. For more information about these symposiums, go to
the WMD website. or
email WMDCenter_Symposium@ndu.edu .
Virtual Worlds Expo Held at National Defense
University
The Information Resources Management (IRM) College is spearheading
the newly-formed Federal Consortium for Virtual Worlds, organized
by the IRM College's Assistant Dean for Teaching, Learning, and
Technology, Dr. Paulette Robinson. The Consortium consists of
representatives from over 200 government, industry, academia,
and non-profit organizations who have come together to explore
the use of online 3D virtual worlds and avatar communities. A
world-wide Virtual Worlds Expo on the "Federal Virtual Worlds
Expo: Implementing the Future" was held April 24-25, 2008, at
the National Defense University's Marshall Hall. For more information
and registration please go to http://www.ndu.edu/irmc/fedconsortium.html.
National Defense University Observes Holocaust Days of Remembrance
The National Defense University Multi-Cultural Committee commemorated
the Holocaust Days of Remembrance on Friday, April 18, 2008, by hosting guest
speaker and survivor Mr. Charles Stein. Mr Stein sopke in an informal setting about
his experiences during the Holocaust. The focus of this year's presentation was
"Do Not Stand Silent: Remembering Kristallnacht 1938."
Dr. Henry A. Kissinger Visits the National Defense University
 
Dr. Henry A. kissinger was welcomed to the National Defense University by Lieutenant General Frances C. Wilson, USMC, President (right), and Ambassador Richard Roth, Senior Vice President (center), on March 5, 2008. Dr. kissinger, Chairman of kissinger Associates, Inc., gave a presentation to the faculty and students of the National War College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Dr. kissinger is a former Secretary of State and Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, and received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973. Bio
Former Iraq Commander Speaks to National Defense University Students
Lieutenant General Raymond T. Odierno, United States Army, the former Commander, Multi-National Corps-Iraq, gave a presentation to faculty and students of the National War College and Industrial College of the Armed Forces on March 4, 2008.
The National War College History and Strategy Roundtable "Empires"
Series
The purpose of the Empires series is simply to take a look at the experience of past imperial powers, always with an eye towards the United States' current "imperial" issues. This year, the focus is entirely on Rome. Topics in the series in previous years have included "The Rise and Demise of the British World Order and the Lessons for Global Power," by Niall Ferguson (Stern Business School, NYU, and Jesus College, Oxford University); "The Empire of the Roman Republic" by University of Maryland historian Arthur Eckstein; "The Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation: Invalid or Incubator?" and "The Austro-Hungarian Empire: Decline, Fall & Disaggregation, 1815-2000," by Purdue University historian Charles Ingrao; "The Ottoman Empire and Its Legacy in the Arab World," by Faruk Birtek (Bogazici University, Istanbul); "Empire and Coalition:The Delian League," by Jennie Kiesling (USMA); "U.S. Special Operations Forces and the Problem of Imperial Policing," by journalist Robert Kaplan; "American Empire" by Boston University's Andrew Bacevich; and "American Empire: Past and Future," by Yale historian John Lewis Gaddis. On Tuesday, February 19, 2008, Roman historian Professor Jon E. (Ted) Lendon, of the University of Virginia, addressed "Counter-Insurgency in the Middle East: Rome and the Jewish Wars." The next program will be held on March 23th when Jeanne Rutenburg from the University of Maryland will speak on “Religion and Empire: Constantine’s Strategic Decision to Embrace Christianity.” These programs are held at Roosevelt Hall (Bldg. 61, the National War College), at Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, DC, from 1700 to 1900 hours. An informal social hour begins at 1700, with the presentation beginning at 1730; formal discussions will end promptly at 1900 after a question and answer session. For further information, contact NDUWebmaster@ndu.edu.
Howard University President Visits National Defense University
Mr. H. Patrick Swygert, President of Howard University, Washington, D.C., was the keynote speaker at the African American History Month program on March 4, 2008, at the National Defense University.
European Symposium: NATO - Bucharest and Beyond
The National Defense University’s Institute for National Strategic Studies hosted the 2008 European Symposium at Fort Lesley J. McNair on February 20, 2008. The Symposium, “NATO: Bucharest and Beyond,” which attracted 345 registrants, included a keynote speech by General John Craddock, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, via VTC from Afghanistan. The symposium focused on identifying and exploring key issues facing NATO today: the pursuit of complex stabilization operations; threats posed by proliferation of ballistic missile capabilities; the U.S. commitment to NATO; and the possible movement towards a new Strategic Concept for the Alliance.
NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer (center) and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General John Craddock (right) – Feb 2008 ISAF (NATO)
Other featured speakers included Admiral Gregory Johnson, USN (Ret), former Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe; Ambassador Eberhard Pohl, Deputy Political Director, German Federal Foreign Office; Lieutenant General Patrick de Rousiers, French Air Force, Commander of Air Defense and Air Operations; Major General Patrick O’Reilly, Deputy Director of the Missile Defense Agency; Major General Ton van Loon, Royal Netherlands Army, Chief of Staff, Allied Land Component Command, NATO; Major General Heinrich Brauss, German Army, Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Policy Planning, NATO; and Mr. Kristian Fischer, Deputy Permanent Secretary of State for Defense, Denmark.
Lt Gen Patrick de Rousiers, French Air Force, MG Patrick O’Reilly, U.S Missile Defense Agency and Ms. Elaine Bunn, INSS (left to right) discuss key strategic and technical issues regarding NATO's role in missile defense. (NDU)
A summary of the symposium proceedings will be available soon on the INSS website, http://www.ndu.edu/inss/, along with presentations that have been cleared by individual speakers: For additional information, contact the INSS Conference Directorate, NDU_Conferences@ndu.edu or 202-685-3857.
Congressional Record Remarks
On February 7, 2008, Senator John W. Warner (R,VA) had placed in the Congressional Record, remarks about the National Defense University. Among other things, he stated: "The National Defense University is a significant and valuable institution for the development of leaders for America's national security needs." Now serving in his twenty-ninth year in the Senate, Senator Warner is the former Chairman, and now the second-ranking Republican of the Senate Armed Services Committee, having begun his association with our men and women in uniform sixty years ago. In this capacity, and throughout his career, he has shown unwavering support for the men and women of the armed forces. He has also been a champion of modernizing the structure and operations of the military to ensure its effectiveness in the 21st century. For the full report, click here.
Second Life Virtual World Consortium
Dr. Paulette Robinson, Assistant Dean for Teaching at the Information Resources Management College, National Defense University, has a formed a multi-agency consortium to establish a sizeable federal presence in the Second Life virtual world run by Linden Labs. Since the initial organizational meeting in July 2007, nearly 20 agencies have signed up for the ad hoc Second Life federal group, with more expressing interest every day. The Air Force and Navy have signed on as well as civilian agencies such as State, Transportation, Library of Congress, National Institutes of Health, and NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration--two of the early federal Second Life pioneers. Dr. Robinson said the consortium plans a major push to establish a federal presence in Second Life and other virtual environments, and along the way create processes and procedures to make it simpler for agencies to get a life in Second Life. The consortium is planning a one day real-world meeting about Second Life in November 2007 at the National Defense University; anyone interested in attending or learning more can contact Ms. Patty Coopersmith, Educational Initiative Project Manager at the IRM College, at coopersmithp@ndu.edu.
National Defense University Weather Notification
National Defense University Operating Status may be obtained by calling (202) 685-4700 and then following the prompt to University-wide announcements. The Office of Personnel Management can also provide excellent information on the status of government operations (see http://www.opm.gov/status). Read More.
Political Activity and the Federal Employee
The political season is upon us and now is a good time to review the Hatch Act provisions. Hatch Act Information for NDU Personnel
.
Hatch Act Information for Military Personnel: DoD Directive 1344.10, Political Activies by Members of the Armed Forces
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