Issue link: https://resources.twc.edu/i/1520363
twc.edu Tuesday, May 13, 2025 10:00am – 5:00pm Participants Arrival and Check-in, Residential and Academic Facility 5:30pm – 6:30pm Orientation Opening Remarks Sean Zimny, Director of Programs, The Washington Center Framing the Week Neil Shortland, Faculty Fellow, The Washington Center Kyle Bergman, Senior Program Manager, The Washington Center Wednesday, May 14, 2025 2024 and Beyond 8:30am – 8:40am Welcome from The Washington Center President Kim Churches 8:40am – 9:00am Opening Remarks from Faculty Fellow Neil Shortland, Faculty Fellow 9:00am – 9:45am Adapting to Asymmetry: The Future of National Security Strategy Asymmetric threats have become a defining feature of the global security environment. From cyberattacks and disinformation to economic coercion and proxy conflicts, these tactics challenge traditional defense strategies and exploit the vulnerabilities of open societies. This session examines how national security frameworks around the world are adapting to an era of strategic competition and unconventional threats and what this evolution means for the future of global stability. Speaker: Jessica Brandt, Former Director, Foreign Malign Influence Center, ODNI Moderated by Ayesha Ray, Professor, King's College 10:00am – 10:45am Introduction to National Security, What It Is and How It's Changing National security has undergone a dramatic transformation since the attacks on September 11, 2001. What began as a focus on counterterrorism has evolved to address a much broader set of threats—including cybersecurity, global pandemics, disinformation, and the rise of strategic competition with other major powers. This session traces the evolution of U.S. national security over the past two decades and explores the most urgent challenges facing the United States in 2025 and beyond. Speaker: Gen. John Allen, Retired U.S. Marine Corps Four-Star General, Former Commander of the NATO International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces-Afghanistan Moderated by Kim Churches, President, The Washington Center 11:00am – 11:45am Trump 2.0 and the Middle East In his second term, President Trump's approach to the Middle East has introduced a blend of assertive diplomacy and strategic recalibration. This session will delve into the evolving U.S. policies in the region. Topics will include the administration's dual-track strategy toward Iran, the shifting dynamics of the U.S.- Israel relationship, and the broader implications for regional stability and U.S. national security interests. Additionally, insights into how these developments are reshaping alliances and influencing the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East will be provided. Speaker: Michael Sharnoff, Associate Professor at the National Defense University's Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies Moderated by Allison McDowell-Smith, Professor, Nichols College 11:45am – 12:00pm Morning Wrap-Up Allison McDowell-Smith, Faculty Lead 12:00pm – 4:00pm Select Institution Group Photos, Lunch (on your own), Small Group Meetings and Site Visits