ST. MARY’S CITY, Md. (April 17, 2010)—The Center for the Study of Democracy at St. Mary’s College of Maryland (SMCM) and the Patuxent Partnership are presenting the 2010 Patuxent Defense Forum; “Winning the Peace: Civilian Operations, State Building, and U.S. Defense Policy,” Tuesday and Wednesday, April 20-21.
Matthew Fehrs, assistant professor of political science at SMCM and moderator of the third panel discussion; “Alternative Civil-Military Approaches to Increasing State Capacity” said: “This year’s Patuxent Defense Forum focuses on the timely subject of joint military and civilians operations in war zones. In light of the Obama administration's new strategy for Afghanistan and the ongoing and planned operations in the southern part of that country, the forum will examine issues of significant policy import. . . .The unique structure of the forum, drawing on experts from academia, government, and the military, allows issues of cooperation to be examined from multiple viewpoints.”
Notable speakers will be commenting on a range of timely topics: Civil-Military Cooperation on the High Seas: Piracy off the Coast of Somalia; One National Interest, Two Teams: Challenges to Integrating Civil and Military Operations; Breaking the Media Trap: Expanding Influence Operations Through Social Facilitation.
Moderating the first panel Tuesday morning on “Civil-Military Operations in Africa, Asia and the Middle East,” is Bradford Higgins, former assistant secretary of state for resource management and chief financial officer. Sworn in on February 21, 2006, Higgins was responsible for all financial management activities relating to the programs and operations of the Department of State.
Moderating the second panel Tuesday afternoon, on “Institutional Challenges for Integrating Civil-Military Partnerships,” is Michael Hess, assistant administrator for the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Hess was appointed by President George W. Bush to this Senate-confirmed position.
The Tuesday evening dinner keynote speaker, Vice Adm. Jeffery A. Wieringa, director, Defense Security Cooperation Agency, previously served as the executive director for the Operations, Research and Engineering Group. Vice Adm. Wieringa was the first aerospace engineering duty officer assigned as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for International Programs and Director, Navy International Programs Office. This tour was capped with the first sale of the Super Hornet to Australia and transfer of the first amphibious warship to India (ex-USS Trenton). Following the selection by the Secretary of Defense, on August 29, 2007, Vice Adm. Wieringa is the first Navy flag officer in over 30 years to direct the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.
The three panel discussions include the following topics:
Panel I: Civil-Military Operations in Africa, Asia and the Middle East
Moderator: Bradford Higgins
Rear Admiral Scott Sanders, USN
Civil-Military Cooperation on the High Seas: Piracy off the Coast of Somalia
LTC Kenneth J. Ratashak, professor, North Carolina University
Team Building and the Creation of a Nation: Afghanistan
Dr. Jomana Amara, professor, Naval Postgraduate School
Economic Security Implications of Military Stabilization Efforts: The Iraq Surge as a Case Study (tentative)
Panel II: Institutional Challenges for Integrating Civil-Military Partnerships
Moderator: Michael Hess
Kurt E. Muller, Civilian Response Corps, U.S. Department of State
The Civil Military Balancing Act in Reconstruction and Stabilization
Benjamin J. Fernandes, National Defense Intelligence College
Military & Civilian Integration is Easy…If We Change Everything
Colonel Tomislav Ruby, Chief, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Doctrine
One National Interest, Two Teams: Challenges to Integrating Civil and Military Operations
Panel III: Alternative Civil-Military Approaches to Increasing State Capacity
Moderator: Dr. Matthew Fehrs, assistant professor, St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Captain Joseph D. Chapman, USAF, 39th Information Operations Squadron
Breaking the Media Trap: Expanding Influence Operations Through Social Facilitation
Daryl Liskey and James Sutton
Our Experience in Iraq and Afghanistan: Challenges For Concurrent Security and Nation-Building Missions
Daniel J. Gerstle, HELO Magazine
Protecting Mothers and Children, Without Weapons: Why Counterinsurgency Must Leave the Humanitarian Sphere
Registration is $95 per person and is available on the Patuxent Partnership’s web site at www.paxpartnership.org, as are speaker biographies. This event is underwritten by defense contractor Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), and is open to the public. The full program can be viewed at the Center for the Study of Democracy’s web site: www.smcm.edu/democracy.