Great Powers, Failed States, and New Frontiers: National Security Challenges in the 21st Century

November 19 - November 21, 2015  |    |  AT&T Hotel and Conference Center

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The conference, “Great Powers, Failed States, and New Frontiers: National Security Challenges in the 21st Century,” will convene leading figures from the executive branch, Congress, the intelligence community and academia for high-level discussions on critical strategic questions including cybersecurity, China, Russia, the Middle East, terrorism and stability operations.

The conference will be free and open to the public, but advance registration is required for each session. NOTE: Advance registration does not guarantee admission. Plan to arrive early to secure your seat!

This event is co-sponsored by the Clements Center, the Robert Strauss Center, the Intelligence Studies Project, the Alexander Hamilton Society, the Center for East Asian Studies, the Center for Politics and Governance, the Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies, the Department of Government, the International Affairs Society, the International Relations and Global Studies Program, the LBJ School of Public Affairs, and the Student Veteran Association. 

AGENDA

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19 
(AT&T Conference Center on UT campus, Amphitheater 204)

5:00 – 5:15 pm     Opening remarks

5:15 – 6:45 pm     Session 1: Russia

                            Moderator: Robert Moser; University of Texas Department of Government
                            Paula Dobriansky; former Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs
                            Leon Aron; American Enterprise Institute
                            Brigadier General Kevin Ryan, USA, Ret.; Harvard University
                            General Montgomery Miegs, USA, Ret.; former Commander, US Army Europe

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20
(AT&T Conference Center on UT campus, Amphitheater 204)

8:00 – 8:30 am      Coffee

8:30 – 10:00 am    Session 2: Stability Operations

                             Moderator: Michael Mosser; University of Texas at Austin
                             Kathleen Hicks; former Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense
                             Michael Vickers; former Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence
                             Paul D. Miller; Clements Center for National Security
                             Colonel Peter Mansoor, USA, Ret.; Ohio State University

10:00 – 10:15 am  BREAK

10:15 – 11:45 am  Session 3: Middle East

                              Moderator: Stephen Slick; Clements-Strauss Intelligence Studies Project
                              Lt Gen Mick Bednarek, USA, Ret.; former Chief, Security Cooperation-Iraq
                              Philip Mudd; former Deputy Director of CIA Counterterrorism Center
                              Michael Singh; former Senior Director, National Security Council
                              Tamara Wittes; former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State

(AT&T Conference Center, 2nd floor, Salon C)

12:00 -1:30 pm     Lunch and Plenary Address
                             Admiral William McRaven, USN, Ret.; Chancellor of The University of Texas System

(Blanton Museum Auditorium, Edgar A. Smith Building)

2:00 – 3:45 pm       Session 4: China

                              Moderator: Joshua Eisenman; LBJ School of Public Affairs
                              Admiral Samuel Locklear, USN, Ret.; former Commander, Pacific Command
                              Dennis Wilder; Central Intelligence Agency
                              Ashley Tellis; former Senior Director, National Security Council
                              Randall Schriver; former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State

3:45 – 4:00 pm       BREAK

4:00 – 5:00 pm       Plenary Address
                              Representative Michael McCaul; Chairman, Homeland Security Committee 

5:00 – 6:00 pm       Plenary Address
                              U.S. Senator Ben Sasse

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21
(Blanton Museum Auditorium, Edgar A. Smith Building)

8:30 – 9:00 pm        Coffee

9:00 – 10:30 am      Session 5: Terrorism

                               Moderator: Robert Chesney; Strauss Center for International Security and Law
                               Daniel Benjamin; former State Department Coordinator for Counterterrorism
                               Bruce Hoffman; Georgetown University
                               Lt Gen Frank Kisner, USAF, Ret.; former NATO Special Operations Commander
                               John McLaughlin; former Deputy Director of Central Intelligence
                               Michael Vickers; former Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence

10:30 – 10:45 am     BREAK

10:45 – 11:45 am     Closing Plenary Address
                                U.S. Senator John Cornyn

12:00 pm                 Conference Adjourns

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