Explore past events hosted by the Center for Security Policy Studies at George Mason University. This archive features conferences, symposia, workshops, lectures, and panel discussions that bring together scholars, policymakers, and practitioners to examine pressing challenges in international security and public policy.
Fall 2026
The Korean Peninsula at an Inflection Point
On Thursday, October 15, CSPS hosted the Korean Peace Foundation for a meeting to discuss the changing economic situation in North Korea and its implications for the Republic of Korea, the United States, and Northeast Asia. The Chairman of the Peace Foundation, the Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, opened the meeting with comments about the mission of the Foundation’s work and their program in Washington DC to promote more awareness about North Korea.
The first session focused on Security Issues. Young-jim Kim from Korea’s National Defense University discussed how North Korea is implementing policy changes that are reversing decades of official policy. Previously, the two anchors of North Korea policy were anti-U.S. imperialism and freedom from China. While North Korea is still against U.S. influence in the region, they have bonded themselves closer to China in the last few years.
The old policy of “three noes” with China: No info sharing, no military exercises, and no talks, is being breached by Kim Jong-un. North Korea now talks with China and has been invited to combined exercises with Russia and China.
Professor Kim explained how much of the American discussion about North Korea centers on human rights and nuclear weapons, but has not paid enough attention to the fact that North Korea, once proudly isolationist in part due to its Juche ideology, is not warming up to greater cooperation with China and Russia. This is a stark shift in seven decades of policy and could potentially give China access to naval or air bases on the North Korean coast.
Schar School Adjunct Professor George Hutchinson commented that the window is rapidly closing for engaging with North Korea. He impressed upon the audience that the U.S. cannot afford to not engage with North Korea and that diplomacy is still worth it. The changes in DPRK ties with China and Russia mean that North Korea has stopped thinking about how the U.S. views it as much as it used to, and the US is losing leverage through sanctions. Hutchinson believes at this point the only way Kim Jong-un would meet Trump is if North Korea was given official nuclear status.
The second session focused on the North Korean Economy. Professor Jung-chul Lee from Seoul National University explained how the economy is compartmentalized; there is a royal economy that includes the party and military, and the economy that the average North Korean person participates in. He believes the sanctions regime has not been effective. He quoted an article in Foreign Affairs by Victor Cha, in which Cha states that U.S.-led sanctions have only hardened the North Korean regime. He said that the only thing the sanctions were effectively doing was blocking exports. This comes with the cost of making the North Koreans more desperate, which leads them to hack companies and export soldiers to fight alongside Russia in Ukraine.
At the same time, he showed that North Korea’s economy is growing, with satellite pictures illustrating the urban growth of the country, and a chart from the Bank of Korea showing that the country has reached pre-sanctions levels economically. Due to sanctions, however, the North Korean economy is skewing towards even greater state ownership, making more people reliant on the state, however strengthening the state comes with its own share of negatives, making the Kim Jong-un regime more powerful and more all-encompassing inside North Korea.
Cheol Lee, an adjunct professor at Soongsil University, then discussed the continued growth of Pyongyang and other North Korean cities, show high rise buildings going up in Pyongyang and even smaller North Korean cities. Private car ownership is also now allowed in North Korea, and Lee showed a video taken in Pyongyang that illustrated just how many cars bore the special license plate that denoted a privately owned vehicle.
Lee said North Korea may have earned $11 billion exporting soldiers to Russia to fight in the war in Ukraine. He explained that the military’s monetary streams are separate from those used for civilian purposes, however, so while North Korea is making money, it only benefits the military.
While on paper North Korea’s economy is growing, Lee said that only five per cent of North Koreans have a stable life. He showed an image of a North Korean man who had frozen to death on the street to illustrate that on paper GDP growth does not affect all levels of society.
Schar School PhD candidate Michael Gigante was a discussant for the economic presentations, presenting himself as a sanctions defender. He explained that he does not find arguments about the humanitarian cost of sanctions convincing, and that he believes that the fact that North Korea is forced to export soldiers tells you all you need to know about the effectiveness of the sanctions regime. He said that simply making North Korea poorer would be an effective use of U.S. sanctions; even if North Korea becomes increasingly hostile, if they remain poor it will take them longer to achieve their ends.
Spring 2026
CSPS Book Presentation with Dr. George Hutchinson
On March 7th, CSPS hosted Dr. George Hutchinson to present on his recent book North Korea’s Nuclear Decisions and Strategies: Sovereignty, Legitimacy, and the Bomb. The discussion was be moderated by CSPS Director Ellen Laipson, and included Dr. Soyoung Kwon and Dr. Greg Koblentz discussants.
Click here to listen to the conversation!
Fall 2025
8th Annual Symposium — New Paradigms for International Security
On November 13, 2025, the Center for Security Policy Studies hosted its Eighth Annual Symposium, “New Paradigms for International Security,” at Mason Square in Arlington, Virginia. The event celebrated the tenth anniversaries of the International Security Program and CSPS and featured a keynote address by Professor Audrey Cronin on how technology is shaping great-power competition, followed by a panel discussion featuring ISEC alumni and CSPS fellows.
CSPS Book Presentation with Emma Ashford
Stimson Center Senior Fellow Emma Ashford presented her book, First Among Equals: U.S. Foreign Policy in a Multipolar World, at a CSPS event in November, 17 2025.
📷 Front: Ashford and CSPS Director Laipson; Back Row: CSPS Fellows Ali Mammadov, Ian McLeod, and Xavier Isaac.
Spring 2023
Intelligence Studies Consortium
On March 24, 2023, the Intelligence Studies Consortium convened its third symposium, entitled New Perspectives in Intelligence Studies. This year, George Mason’s Schar School of Policy and Government is hosted at our Arlington location. Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, Shannon Corless, gave a keynote address to start off the event. Attendees also enjoyed a lunchtime conversation with General Michael V. Hayden.
The symposium featured student presentations in four panels:
- Russia and China
- Violent Non-State Actors
- Emerging Technologies
- Transnational Challenges
CSPS Book Presentation with Eugene M. Fishel
CSPS Fellow and State Department veteran Eugene Fishel gave an incredible discussion on his book The Moscow Factor as well as current events with American-Ukrainian-Russian relations in March. GMU Professor Ed Rhodes and GMU graduate student Mariia Panga joined with insightful discussion on current events.
CSPS Book Presentation with Mel Gurtov
In February CSPS enjoyed author Mel Gurtov and his discussion on his book Engaging China to analyze the main themes and policy proposals on US-Chinese relations.
Fall 2022
Crisis Simulation: Baltics 2028
CSPS hosted a Crisis Simulation on Saturday, October 15, 2022, entrenching about 45 students in a day long challenge full of foreign policy and strategy decisions designed to reflect a realistic crisis. An Estonian separatist state, backed by a Russian minority in the region, presented policy and military challenges for students to navigate in roles representing state actors. Students navigated the protection of individual rights, the defense of democracy, navigation of refugee crises, and protection of the energy grid.
Speaker Series: Is Taiwan Ready for War?
On October 11, 2022, CSPS hosted a panel discussing the question: Is Taiwan ready for war? CSPS Assistant Director Mike Hunzeker moderated the discussion. To watch the event, please visit HERE.
Summer 2022
Our CSPS Faculty and Fellows had a busy summer! Here are a few highlights:
The Schar School and CSPS organized a week-long study tour to Korea, and the CSPS-Korea branch, led by Professor Soyoung Kwon, hosted an important symposium on May 24, examining prospects for peace in the Korean peninsula. The week-long course focused on the theme of the changing security landscape in Northeast Asia. In light of President Biden’s visit to Korea in May and the recent change of administration in Seoul, our study program was an exciting opportunity to examine the full suite of security challenges and policy debates. CSPS Director and former CSPS Fellow George Hutchinson led the academic program, with important input from Mason-Korea faculty and distinguished Korean experts from diverse institutions. Visit the Mason Korea page HERE to read more about the symposium, or visit the CSPS-Korea event post on the symposium HERE.
In July, CSPS associate director Dr. Mike Hunzeker and CSPS alumnus Dr. Joseph Petrucelli ran a nuclear escalation simulation as part of the NATO Defense College’s 2022 Early-Career Nuclear Strategists’ Workshop. Now in its fourth year, this workshop fosters awareness and expertise of issues related to nuclear strategy among up-and-coming security scholars from across the alliance. Dr. Hunzeker and Dr. Petrucelli’s simulation asked/challenged participants to respond to an adversary’s use of a nuclear weapon as it tries to ‘escalate to de-escalate’ in the early stages of a conflict with the alliance.
CSPS Fellow Will Nelson spent the summer as a research fellow with the Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii. He was awarded a Daniel Inouye Fellowship and will work on Asian military issues.
Spring 2022
Gettysburg Staff Ride
On August 16, 2022, Schar undergraduate and graduate students visited Gettysburg, PA, for a staff ride under the expert guidance of ret. Colonel Rob Abbott.
The Bicentennial of the U.S.-Colombia Relationship
March 29, 2022, in conjunction with TraCCC, CSPS and Schar featured Juan Carlos Pinzon, Ambassador of Columbia to the United States, for a discussion on opportunities for partnership and growth with the bicentennial of the U.S.-Columbia relationship.
Crisis Simulation: East China Sea
In March 2022 CSPS hosted its first in-person crisis simulation since the beginning of the pandemic. The simulation focused on a hypothetical international crisis in the East China Sea, featuring decision making role-play as government officials from the United States, Japan, and China. Over two dozen graduate and undergraduate students from across the Schar School participated in the simulation.
Russia’s War on Ukraine: Schar School Faculty Insights
On March 8, 2022, CSPS hosted a Schar “teach-in” event in conjunction with the Democracy Lab, International Relations Policy Task Force, and Undergraduate Research Community on Russia’s War on Ukraine. This event was a first-of-kind, hybrid Fairfax and Arlington campus event, with faculty and attendees present on both campuses connected via zoom. Professors Mark Katz, Janine Wedel, Michael Hunzeker, Eric McGlinchey, Desmond Dinan, Richard Kauzlarich, Ellen Laipson, and Anton Ligusha PhD student Mariia Panga all provided speaking points.
Fall 2021
Round Table with Dr. Ki-Jung Kim
On December 1, 2021, CSPS hosted Dr. Ki-Jung Kim, President of the Korean Institute for National Strategic Studies, and his delegation of researchers, for a roundtable discussion with Schar School faculty and graduate students. Dr. Kim presented his analysis of peace efforts by the current Korean government towards North Korea. The visit was organized by Prof. Soyoung Kwon, Director of the CSPS branch at Mason-Korea.
The Making of China’s “Wolf Warrior” Diplomacy
Hosted November 4, 2021, “The Making of China’s Wolf Warrior Diplomacy” was the latest session in CSPS’ Distinguished Speaker Series. The session featured Peter Martin, Bloomberg News Washington Correspondent and author of China’s Civilian Army: The Making of Wolf Warrior Diplomacy as the featured speaker, Dr. Ketian Zhang, assistant professor at George Mason University as the discussant, and Ellen Laipson, director of CSPS as the moderator.
Peter Martin’s book available for purchase HERE
Spring 2021
Crisis Simulation: NATO, Russia, and a Political-Military Crisis in the Baltic States \
On April 23-24 2021, students from the Schar School of Policy and Government met virtually for CSPS’s semi-annual crisis simulation. This semester the NATO, Russia, and a Political-Military Crisis in the Baltic States simulation was refashioned to heighten tension and place students under greater pressure. The CSPS control cell split participants into six country teams that navigated three progressive “rounds” of a crisis designed to force participants to navigate escalation in the near future. Each team grappled with public diplomacy in the age of social media, political decisions in uncertain conditions, and military coordination with an alliance in jeopardy.
The challenge to participants peaked when a nuclear weapon was set off in Paris by an unknown actor, bringing the teams to the precipice of nuclear war. Impressively, the students were able to avert a catastrophe with admirable prudence and careful signaling. After the final round it was revealed- to much surprise- that the attack on Paris had resulted from a country team’s opening moves. The CSPS control cell and moderators enjoyed the dynamism brought to the revised exercise and eagerly anticipate the outcome of a new simulation to be hosted in Fall 2021.
Maritime Security After Suez
On April 30, students from the Schar School of Policy and Government convened virtually for CSPS’s final event of the semester. They explored how the vulnerabilities of the global supply chain can have repercussions for the security interests of trading nations and countries close to the supply routes. Interruptions in the Suez Canal last month, for example, had a real impact on the flow of trade, and the interests of dozens of countries and companies.
Monograph Launch: ‘Contests of Initiative: Countering China’s Gray Zone Strategy in the East and South China Seas’’
March 11, 2021
Fall 2020
Crisis Simulation: NATO, Russia, and a Political-Military Crisis in the Baltic States
On November 13-14, 2020, 31 students from the Schar School of Policy and Government (21 participants and 10 CSPS volunteers) convened virtually for CSPS’s semi-annual crisis simulation: NATO, Russia, and a Political-Military Crisis in the Baltic States. The players participated on one of six teams: Baltics-Poland, France-Germany, Turkey, U.S., U.K., and Red. Players navigated three progressive “rounds” of the simulation followed by a final debrief and discussion session. Strategic challenges emerged naturally – escalation management, decision making under uncertainty, alliance cohesion, signaling, credibility, and public diplomacy in the age of Twitter.
Drones and the Future of Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Threats with Zak Kallenborn, Gregory Koblentz, and Nicole Thomas
Moderator: Ellen Laipson
A Conversation with Andrew McCabe, former Deputy Director of the FBI with Michael Morell (Former Acting Director and Deputy Director of the CIA)
Moderator: Ellen Laipson
Co-sponsored by the Hayden Center
Spring 2020
The Coronavirus & its International Ramifications
On Feb 21, 2020 CSPS welcomed Dr. Stephen Morrison, Dr. Ashley Grant, and Dr. Ketian Zhang for a discussion on the security issues coronavirus poses, and the way that states can prepare for an outbreak.
Dr. Morrison, senior vice president at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and director of its Global Health Policy Center, discussed both China’s response to the crisis and the way the internaitonal community, the World Health Organization in particular, have worked together to combat the virus.
Dr. Grant, a biotechnologist and adjunct at GMU, gave the audience information about the coronavirus in particular, how contagious it is, what the scientific community does and does not know about it, and ways that governments and citizens can prepare for an eventual outbreak.
Dr. Zhang, an Assistant Professor of Intenraitonal Security at GMU, shared her personal experience, visiting Beijing over the holiday break. Zhang was under quarintine for ten days and caught the last flight back to the United States. As a regional expert in East Asia Zhang also shared how the virus has undermined Xi Jinping’s leadership.
The complete discussion is available on YouTube.
Norfolk Staff Ride
On the morning of November 23rd, twenty-seven George Mason graduate and undergraduate students participated in CSPS’s Staff Ride to Norfolk Naval Station for a full day of tours. During the bus ride, former Naval officers Doyle Hodges and Ryan Berry provided background knowledge to the students. Both discussed their personal experiences in the Navy and delved into the technical details of different classes of ships and the intricacies of landing an airplane on a postage stamp, as Ryan referred to the deck of an aircraft carrier. Students engaged in a discussion on the three broad missions of the Navy: power projection, control of the seas, and strategic deterrence. The tours of different ships would serve as manifestations of each mission on different platforms.
After the stage was set for the first tour and students prepared for the rigor of back-to-back tours. Starting with the Nimitz-class USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) for a 90-minute tour, GMU’s students started in the hangar bays and snaked their way through the maze-like interior halls of the Stennis, eventually emerging atop the flight deck. Ryan, a former naval flight officer who served on EA-6B Prowlers during his time in the Navy, went into careful detail to explain the processes and perils of launching and recovering aircraft on the high seas. As an unplanned addition, students were able to look across the pier to a recent arrival to Norfolk – the HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) and the F-35 parked onboard. After touring the bridge and a tribute-like room to the ship’s namesake, Senator Stennis, the group disembarked and prepared for the next tour: for half the group, a destroyer; for the other half, a submarine.
The USS Nitze (DDG-94) is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer commissioned in 2005. Its missions and corresponding capabilities range from antisurface warfare (ASuW) to antisubmarine warfare (ASW) and from strikes on land with Tomahawk cruise missiles to surface-to-air defenses at sea. The group saw the Nitze’s missile cells, close-in weapons system (CIWS, pronounced SEE-WIZ), 5-inch gun, bridge, and even the mess hall where college football games demanded the attention of off-duty sailors. Doyle’s previous experience commanding the USS Ross (DDG-71) was invaluable as the Nitze’s tour guides showed students the different facilities and components of their ship.
As we got to the final pier for the tour of the Virginia-class USS New Hampshire (SSN-778), we quickly understood this to be a more sensitive area for tourists. Security felt more stringent, and we were asked to relinquish our cell phones as soon as we made it through the gate. As our 15-student groups were cut again by half, we proceeded down the first ladder and into the New Hampshire. Descending at a vertical angle into the sub, students quickly came to appreciate the realities of life aboard a platform designed to conserve maximum amounts of space. The layout was shocking to those of us who had never set foot in a submarine: narrow hallways, small berthing areas, and near vertical sets of stairs. However, we quickly were in awe of many of the features on the New Hampshire which distracted us from the cramped space. Among many other areas, students walked through the “magazine” of the sub where torpedoes are loaded into tubes to be launched and toured the control room or “con” showcased in every submarine movie (including Crimson Tide, which was viewed on our return trip).
CSPS is thankful for all of the military servicemembers who made our day of tours possible. Despite the long hours and a gloomy, rainy afternoon, the enthusiasm of Norfolk’s naval personnel and active engagement of the students made all the travel worth it. We hope to return soon with a new batch of eager GMU students!
Fall 2019
Africa’s Security Challenges: Is the Situation Improving?
On October 18, 2019, Dr. Philip Martin – an Assistant Professor of International Security at the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University, and Eric Schmitt – a senior writer covering terrorism and national security for The New York Times, met to explore the status of Africa’s wars, and efforts to build greater security capacity in this critical region. Dr. Phillip Martin begun the discussion, outlining the fact that Africa accounts for 30% of all Islamic State’s violence. Dr. Martin then discussed intercommunal conflicts, political protests, and long-term conflict resolution. Mr. Schmitt discussed European and American special forces “Operation Flintlock”, the current conflict in Burkina Faso, and the ongoing issue in Libya. Mr. Schmitt then went into a discussion of AFCOMM, and its relations with the current administration. The discussion was concluded with questions on non-military approaches to the security challenge, competition/collaboration between Russia and China in the region, blanket amnesty and the need for security forces, concluding with a significant discussion on the importance of police forces in the region.
Along the US-Mexican Border
October 10, 2019 – The U.S.-Mexico border has been the site of intense scrutiny recently, with attention focused on asylum seekers from Central America and the separation of families while their cases are processed. It was in this context that Dr. Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera, a Schar School Associate Professor, traveled the entire U.S.-Mexico border earlier this year, entering and exiting through all of the more than 40 border crossings between the two countries. Dr. Correa-Cabrera gave a presentation to undergraduate and graduate students about this experience, which covered topics of immigration, security, indigenous people, economics, and culture in the border region.
Many migrants underestimate the difficulty they will encounter once in the country. In response to a question from the audience, Dr. Correa-Cabrera poignantly described how many migrants, upon arriving in the United States, realize that it is not the so-called promised land that they might have been led to believe. But as long as conditions in their home countries persist, migrants will continue making the journey to the border, shaping it in ways that reflect their unique cultural contributions.
Summer 2019
Site Visit at Norfolk
On August 23, 2019, Dr. John Gordon, a CSPS affiliate faculty member and adjunct professor at George Mason University, took a group of current and former Schar School/CSPS students on a tour of Naval Station Norfolk, the largest naval base in the world, to see firsthand the inside of an aircraft carrier and attack submarine. As if to emphasize just how much naval history lies within and around the area, Dr. Gordon pointed out the rough site of the famous Civil War Battle of the Monitor and Merrimack as the group approached the City of Norfolk.
The first stop was the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in service since the 1970s. Once on board the Eisenhower, the group was escorted through a labyrinth of hallways, going up and down steep staircases until finally arriving on the flight deck, where aircraft are catapulted into the air and land with the help of arresting wires. There were no planes on the flight deck that day because the various squadrons and detachments that make up the air wing are usually only present when the ship is deployed. But this made the scale of the flight deck look that much more expansive, and even more so from the atop the bridge. The tour concluded with a look at the berthing quarters— where the sailors sleep—in bunk beds stacked three on top of each other.
Next, the group got a special tour of the Virginia-class attack submarine USS John Warner. Boarding the submarine required nimble feet as the students had to walk on the hull before descending down the hatch into the tight spaces below. Because room is obviously very limited, every inch of space has a purpose—whether for storage or function. The sleep accommodations on the submarine made those on the Eisenhower look downright luxurious by comparison. There were some comforts, however: an ice cream machine and a sizable collection of DVDs, to pass the time on months’ long deployments. The potentially dangerous situations that the crew is expected to encounter were thrust into stark relief when the tour was led to the torpedo room, where some of the (lower-ranking) sailors sleep in close proximity to the launching tubes.
CSPS looks forward to sponsoring more trips for students and fellows in the coming academic year.
Spring 2019
CSPS-Korea Hosted International Security Symposium
In May the Korean branch of CSPS hosted an international security symposium that emphasized Environmental Challenges and Solutions. The Symposium addressed such issues as the effects of the tsunami on the Fukushima nuclear energy plant, the importance of developing global solutions, and the role of major states in shaping the landscape of climate issues.
A report on the conference is available here.
Speakers at the symposium included Dr. Taedong Lee of Yonsei University, Dr. Eunjung Lim of Ritsumeikan University, Dr. Simon Wilson of the Green Climate Fund, and GMU Professors Dr. Ming Wan, Dr. Andrew Light, Dr. Changwoo Ahn, and Dr. Todd M. La Porte.
Annual Gettysburg Staff Ride
On April 27th, 2019 CSPS hosted its annual tour of the Gettysburg Battlefield where GMU students and staff will walked the battlefield. Topics of discussion emphasized the impact that leadership characteristics play in outcomes both in times of war and peace.
The Future of US & Taiwan Relations
On February 27, 2019 GMU Professor Gerrit van der Wees, Mr. Ian Easton from Project 2049, and GMU Professor and CSPS Associate Director Michael Hunzeker discussed the relationship between the US and Taiwan. Dr. Van der Wess outlined the history of Taiwan and the tensions that emerged between China, the US, and Taiwan. Mr. Easton explained the importance of the Chinese and Taiwanese relationship in the future of the international community, and the impact they are likely to have, especially on the US. Dr. Hunzeker than presented the work detailed in a collaborative CSPS monograph, on ways Taiwan can prepare for a potential Chinese invasion.
Reflections on the 40th Anniversary of the Iranian Revolution
In February CSPS welcomed Professor Shaul Bakhash, who spoke on the Iranian Revolution and the lasting impacts it has had.
Fall 2018
Monograph Launches
In November CSPS launched its monograph series with, “Terror Vanquished: The Italian Approach to Defeating Terrorism” by Simon Clark. The event included a discussion with Paul R. Pillar, moderated by Ellen Laipson, Director, CSPS.
That monograph was quickly followed by “A Question of Time: Enhancing Taiwan’s Conventional Deterrence Posture” by Michael Hunzeker and Alexander Lanoszka, hosted by the Stimson Center.
Crisis Simulation: Kaliningrad
On October 27, 2018, wxpert facilitators from the U.S. Army War College joined us to stage a simulation that explores a fictional clash between Russia and NATO over the former’s right of access to the Kaliningrad district across the Baltic States and Poland. Participants took on the role of a state or composite actor in a potential conflict in Northeastern Europe. Each participant team has its own specific objectives and guidelines for action.
The Asian Century: What Does It Mean for the United States?
Center for Security Policy Studies (CSPS) had its inaugural annual international security conference “The Asian Century What Does It Mean for the United States?” on September 7, 2018. The event was held from 8.30 am to 2.30 pm at the Arlington campus of George Mason University, Founders Hall, Room 134 (Auditorium), 3351 Fairfax Drive, Arlington VA. Topics addressed were: the major trends defining Asia’s future, regional hotspots and U.S. responses, and the larger, long-term challenges for U.S. national security. Keynote addresses from Prof. Aaron Friedberg (Princeton University) and Adm. Dennis Blair (former PACOM Commander and former Director of National Intelligence) bookended the day.
The conference report and video can be found here.
Spring 2018
HBO’s Documentary Viewing “The Final Year”- May 10th, 2018
THE FINAL YEAR is a unique insiders’ account of President Barack Obama’s foreign policy team during their last year in office. Featuring unprecedented access inside the White House and State Department, THE FINAL YEAR offers an uncompromising view of the inner workings of the Obama Administration as they prepare to leave power after eight years. The cast is comprised of Barack Obama, John Kerry, Samantha Power, Ben Rhodes, and Susan Rice. The screening was followed by a Q&A with Rumana Ahmed, former Senior Advisor to Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes; Sergio Aguirre, Former Chief of Staff to U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and Former White House NSC Director; as well as Desiree Barnes, communications and public engagement strategist for former U.S. President Barack Obama. The event took place in Founders Hall 134 between 6:00pm- 9:00pm.
Staff Ride to Antietam
On April 28th, 2018, a limited number of graduate students experienced a rigorous staff ride at the site of the costliest one-day battle in the entire history of the United States. Participating students had the opportunity to research and consult with experts to explore the decisions of individual leaders on the very terrain where they were made in 1862. 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM, transportation provided to/from Founders Hall, Schar School of Policy and Government (Map) and Antietam National Battlefield.
Drones and U.S. Foreign Policy- April 20th, 2018
On April 20th, 2018, Rachel Stohl, Managing Director of the Stimson Center’s Conventional Defense Program, joined the Center for Security Policy Studies (CSPS) as the final Distinguished Speaker of the semester on Friday, April 20th from 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm in Founders Hall Room 113 (Arlington Campus).
NATO and the Future of the International Order – April 18, 2018
The Center for Security Policy Studies (CSPS) on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 from 12:00 noon-2:00 pm in Founders Hall, Room 120 hosted an event wherein Schar School of Policy and Government faculty Professor Colin Dueck and Ambassador Richard Kauzlarich- debate the future of NATO.