CARLISLE BARRACKS, Pa. -- Mar. 22, 2012 -- The U.S. Army War College's Strategic Studies Institute (SSI) hosts its 23rdannual Strategy Conference here from April 10-12.
"The Future of U.S. Grand Strategy in an Age of Austerity: Challenges and Opportunities," is the topic explored by a diverse gathering of opinion leaders from the military, industry, think tanks, and academia during this two-day event.
Featured speakers include:
Mr. Richard Armitage, career diplomat, former Deputy Secretary of State for the Bush Administration, and president of Armitage International, who will open the conference on Apr. 11, with a keynote address.
Lt. Gen. Keith Walker, director of the Army Capabilities Integration Command at the Army's Training and Doctrine Command, who will talk about the Army of 2020 later in the afternoon and then participate in a panel discussion on the role of the military in the broader context of grand strategy.
Mr. James Locher, III, veteran Washington insider, former President and CEO for the Project on National Security Reform, and author of Victory on the Potomac: The Goldwater-Nichols Act Unifies the Pentagon, who will speak at a banquet later in the evening about big changes in national security strategy and why they succeed or fail.
"Each year the U.S. Army War College conducts this flagship event focused on timely and critical issues of national security," said Prof. Douglas C. Lovelace, Jr., director of SSI. "In a period of increased economic crisis, combined with an ever-changing international security environment, the 2012 Strategy Conference will address challenges and opportunities facing the U.S. in devising and implementing effective and efficient grand strategy."
Panel I - As national security policy makers develop strategy in an era of increasing demands and decreasing resources, panelists Dr. Lawrence Korb, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, Mr. Tom Davis, vice president for strategic planning at General Dynamics, and Mr. Thomas McNaugher of Georgetown University will explore "An Age of Austerity: What Is It and What Does It Mean?"
Panel II -- Increasing demands and an interconnected global community mean that no nation will go it alone. Panelists Lt. Gen. P.R. Newton, a retired officer from the British Army and director for the Centre of Strategic Studies at Exeter University, Dr. Albert Palazzo, from Australia's Directorate of Army Research and Analysis, retired Chinese Rear Adm. Yang Yi, former director of the of the People's Liberation Army National Defense University Strategic Studies Institute, and Mr. William Owen, editor of Asian Defence and Diplomacy, provide perspectives on how others view U.S. grand strategy and the role of partners in its development and implementation.
Panel III -- As military forces begin to wind down operations after more than a decade at war and austerity looks to re-shape the military, panelists Undersecretary of the Navy Robert O. Work and Dr. Tom Mahnken from the Naval War College and a visiting scholar at the Philip Merrill Center for Strategic Studies at the Johns Hopkins University's Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies examine how strategy will define "The Role(s) of the Military: Doing What? With What?"
Panel IV -- With military forces downsizing and budgets shrinking, there is an increasing need for other government agencies to receive greater consideration as policy makers develop grand strategy. Panelists Dr. Peter Feaver from Duke University, Mr. James Stephenson, a senior advisor from Creative Associates International and former mission director for USAID, and Mr. Michael Lekson from the U.S. Institute of Peace will discuss "The Role(s) of Civilian Agencies: Doing What? With What?"
Panel V -- As grand strategy continues to evolve as it seeks to address national security concerns in an age of austerity, panelists Dr. Christopher Preble, vice president for defense and foreign policy studies at the CATO Institute, Dr. Bernard Finel of the National War College, and Dr. Steven Metz from the U.S. Army War College's Strategic Studies Institute will provide insight on "U.S. Grand Strategy Options."
Panel VI -- Leadership is critical to the development and execution of any strategy. Panelists Prof. F. William Smullen, III, from Syracuse University's Maxwell School, Mr. William Eggers of Deloitte Research, and Dr. Don Snider from the Army War College's Strategic Studies Institute will discuss how the nation is and should be "Developing Strategic Leaders for an Age of Austerity."
"This year's conference promises to be an especially important and thought-provoking event, and a valuable contribution to the evolution of U.S. strategic thinking," said Lovelace.
The Strategic Studies Institute is the Army's institute for geostrategic and national security research and analysis. It conducts strategic research and analysis to support the U.S. Army War College curricula, provides direct analysis for Army and Department of Defense leadership, and serves as a bridge to the wider strategic community.
For more information, contact the SSI at ssi_events@conus.army.mil or by going to http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/events/details.cfm?q=153.
Can't make it to the Conference? You can catch all of the action on our live blog on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ArmyWarCollegeor follow us @ArmyWarCollege.
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