From November 19-21, 2015, the Robert S. Strauss Center for International Security and Law and the Clements Center for National Security will convene the second annual National Security Forum at the University of Texas at Austin. This year’s event, “Great Powers, Failed States, and New Frontiers: National Security Challenges in the 21st Century,” will explore the security challenges the U.S. currently faces and how our national security institutions are positioned to respond. The event will convene leading figures from the executive branch, Congress, 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 for each session is required. NOTE: Advance registration does not guarantee admission. Plan to arrive early to secure your seat!

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

Paula Dobriansky; former Under Secretary of State

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

Kathleen Hicks; former Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense

Michael Vickers; former Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence

Roland Paris; University of Ottawa

Colonel Peter Mansoor, USA, Ret.; Ohio State University

10:00 - 10:15 am BREAK

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

Lieutenant General 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, Ballroom 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

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

U.S. Senator Ben Sasse

5:00 - 6:00 pm Plenary Address

Congressman Michael McCaul; Chairman, Homeland Security Committee

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

8:30 - 9:00 pm Coffee

9:00 - 10:30 am Session 5: Terrorism

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 Intelligenc

10:30 - 10:45 am BREAK

10:45 - 11:45 am Closing Plenary Address

U.S. Senator John Cornyn

12:00 pm Conference Adjurns

Join the conversation online at #NSF and follow us at @clementscenter, @strausscenter, and @UTIntel.