U.S. Military: New President, New Outlook?

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Registration is closed.

Two hot wars, an overstretched military, the growing likelihood of nuclear attack, a new generation of insurgents adept with cruise missiles and eavesdropping technology -- and sagging American political and economic clout. The Knight Center seminar will drill deep into these and other trends that will challenge the Obama administration over the next four years.

Speaker's bios: Get the faculty's biographies and contact information

Schedule:

Sunday, February 15

6:30-9:00 p.m., A Brief History of the Future

Lt. Col. Ralph Peters, U.S. Army (Ret.) and author, Wars of Blood and Faith: The Conflicts That Will Shape the 21st Century

Video highlights: Youtube | Vimeo
Download audio: Presentation and Q&A

Monday, February 16

8:30-10:00 a.m., Iraq: What Next?

Stephen Biddle, senior fellow for defense policy, Council on Foreign Relations

Download audio: Presentation (13.8MB) | Q&A Session (35MB)

10:15-11:45 a.m., Afghanistan: The Ground War

Seth Jones, political scientist and Afghanistan specialist, RAND Corporation
Lt. Col. Brian Mennes, U.S. Army, commander, 1st Ranger Battalion

Download audio: Seth Jones presentation (6.6MB) | Brian Mennes presentation (6.4MB) | Jones and Mennes Q&A (37.1MB)

1:30-3:00 p.m., Afghanistan: The Air War

Maj. Gen. William J. Rew, director of Operational Planning, Policy and Strategy, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans and Requirements, U.S. Air Force

Download audio: Rew presentation (12.9MB) | Rew Q&A with Brig. General William Hyatt (40.6MB)
Powerpoint: View presentation

Tuesday, February 17

8:30-10:00 a.m., Obama’s Military Challenges

Andrew Krepinevich, president, Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments

Download audio: Krepinevich presentation (12.3MB) | Q&A (37.8 MB)

10:15-11:45 a.m., The State of the Army

Gen. Jack Keane, U.S. Army (Ret.), former vice chief of staff of the Army

1:30-3:00 p.m., Defense Budget: An Approaching Train Wreck?

Winslow Wheeler, director, Straus Military Reform Project, Center for Defense Information
Gordon Adams, professor, School of International Service, American University

Download audio: Wheeler presentation (13.1MB) | Adams presentation (14.2 MB) | Joint Q&A (18.7 MB)
Powerpoint: View Wheeler presentation | View Adams presentation

3:15-4:30 p.m., Ethical Dilemmas in Covering the U.S. Military

Christopher Hanson, associate professor, Philip Merrill College of Journalism, University of Maryland

6:00 p.m., War Crimes: Lessons from Vietnam

Deborah Nelson, director, Carnegie Seminar, Philip Merrill College of Journalism, University of Maryland, and author, The War Behind Me: Vietnam Veterans Confront the Truth About U.S. War Crimes

Wednesday, February 18

8:30-10:00 a.m., Talking Points: The Role of Diplomacy

Ambassador John Herbst, coordinator for Reconstruction & Stabilization, U.S. Department of State

Download audio: Presentation (15MB) | Q&A (23MB)

10:15-11:45 a.m., Smart Power: Building Nations and Partnerships

Anne Richard, vice president, Government Relations and Advocacy, International Rescue Committee
Carola McGiffert, director of Smart Power Initiatives, Center for Strategic & International Studies

Download audio: Richard presentation | McGifferet presentation | Joint Q&A

1:00-1:15 p.m., Depart for the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.

2:30-4:30 p.m., The Global Strategic Picture

4:30 p.m., Walk to and view 9/11 Memorial

Thursday, February 19

8:45-10:00 a.m., Travel to Marine Corps Base Quantico

10:00-11:45 a.m., The Basic School: Training Lieutenants to Lead in Combat

Major Jeff Landis, protocol officer, The Basic School

12:00-1:15 p.m., Lunch at The Basic School Chow Hall

1:30-1:50 p.m., Overview

1:50-2:50 p.m., The Marine Corps’ Strategic Vision

Col. Steve Zotti, director, Strategic Vision Group, Marine Corps Combat Development Command

3:00-4:00 p.m., Enhancing Rifle Company Operations

Mr. Jean Malone, deputy director, Marine Corps Experimentation/Warfighting Laboratory

4:00-4:30 p.m., Capitalizing on the Human Dimension

Mr. George Dallas, director, Center for Advanced Operational Culture Learning

4:30-5:00 p.m., Combating Irregular Threats

Col. Dan Kelly, director, Center for Irregular Warfare

Friday, February 20

8:30-10:00 a.m., The New Military Journalism

Noah Shachtman, editor, “Danger Room” blog, Wired.com

Video highlight: Lessons from Rock and Roll
Download audio: Presentation (10.8MB) | Q&A (37.4MB)

10:15-11:45 a.m. Back to the Newsroom

David Wood, national security correspondent, The Baltimore Sun

At Knight Center seminars print, broadcast and online journalists receive in-depth training, meet like-minded colleagues, get grounded in a new assignment or rekindle enthusiasm for a long-time beat. Seminars are free. Fellowships cover all seminar costs including meals and lodging. Applications are invited from print, broadcast and online journalists and bloggers and citizen journalists.

Speakers will be experts from top research institutions, government, business and the media. Participants will gain valuable sources and engage in thought-provoking discussions with colleagues from around the country. Knight Center fellowships cover all seminar costs, including reference materials, hotel lodging and meals.

Seminars are held at the University of Maryland, in the metro Washington, D.C. area.

The Knight Center is funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and is a professional program of the University of Maryland's Philip Merrill College of Journalism. Participants stay in a hotel on the University of Maryland campus, located near Washington, D.C.

Applicants must work for independent news organizations or be independent freelance or online journalists. The Knight Center seeks diversity among participants.

Contact the Knight Center at 301/405-4817, or e-mail us at knight@umd.edu.

The deadline to apply for this seminar has passed.
Registration is closed.