Fall NSRT program focuses on China

CGSC’s Command and General Staff School faculty from the Department of Joint, Interagency and Multinational Operations (DJIMO) and the CGSC Foundation cohosted a National Security Roundtable (NSRT) program Oct. 1-2, 2019, at the Lewis and Clark Center on Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Eighteen guests attended this NSRT program, accompanied by 13 Foundation trustees and nine alumni of the program. More than 50 faculty, staff and students were also involved in making the event a success for the participants and the College.

The 18 guests were:
• Mr. Jerry Baber, EVP & COO, Union Station, Kansas City
• Dr. Ed Bashaw, Dean, School of Business, Emporia State University
• Mr. Jay Byers, CEO, Greater Des Moines Partnership
• Mr. John Ellspermann, Managing Director, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
• Ms. Narbeli Galindo, Director of International Affairs & Trade, Economic Development Corp. of Kansas City
• Mr. Larry Hisle, Executive Director, Greater Kansas City Federal Executive Board
• Mr. Sly James, Co-Founder, Wickham James; Former Mayor, Kansas City, Missouri
• Ms. Jenny Kincaid Julian, Founder & President, Socialworx PR
• Mr. Bill Kort, Founder and Contributor, Kort Sessions
• Ms. Martha Lally, Segment Producer, Martha M. Lally Enterprises, LLC
• Rear Adm. Jeffrey Penfield, U.S. Navy, Retired
• Mr. Bob Rodriguez, VP Networking Procurement & Strategic Sourcing, Sprint
• Mr. Bradley Sandt, CEO/CTO/President, Menlo Inc.
• Jeffrey “STRETCH” Rumaner, Creator and Owner, Grinders Pizza and Chances Social
• Senator Dinah Sykes, Kansas Senator, Kansas Senate District 21
• Mr. Patrick Warren, President, Kansas Speedway, Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army (CASA) for Kansas City
• Dr. Arne Zislin, V.M.D., M.B.A, Veterinary Technical Manager, Retired
• Ms. Elaine Zislin, Occupational Therapist, Retired

The first day of the roundtable program included welcome remarks by CGSC Deputy Commandant Brig. Gen. Steve Maranian and Command and General Staff School Director Col. Scott Green. After the welcoming remarks, Mr. Jeff LaMoe, Director of Operations and Support for Army University, provided the group with a briefing on the history of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and an overview of Army professional education with special emphasis on the College.

Following LaMoe’s briefing, Mr. Kevin Rousseau, CGSC’s Distinguished Chair for National Intelligence Studies and an officer in the Central Intelligence Agency, provided the “scene setter” briefing to orient the participants to the topic of “A Rising Chinese Empire?” After an extensive discussion with many questions from the participants, the group moved to the atrium of the Lewis and Clark Center for the reception and social hour.

On the second day of the program, DJIMO faculty presented two discussion panels, the first of which was “A Rising Chinese Empire? The Near Area” by Dr. John Modinger, Lt. Col. James Johnson, and Mr. Michael Forsyth. The second panel, “A Rising Chinese Empire? China Afar” was presented by Dr. Geoff Babb from the Department of Military History, Lt. Col. Josh Stephenson, and Mr. Mike Burke. After the second panel the participants split into three small groups and moved to seminar rooms to conduct “wrap around” sessions where they could ask additional questions and learn more in a smaller group environment.

During the working lunch on the second day Foundation President/CEO Roderick M. Cox provided the group with an information briefing on the CGSC Foundation’s mission and programs. At the end of the day Foundation Chairman Mike Hockley and CGSS Director Col. Green presented each guest with a certificate and group photo. Hockley also presented each with a challenge coin. The program was adjourned with an offering of a tour of the Lewis and Clark Center led by Cox and Green.

Special thanks go to Lt. Col. Randy Johnson and the DJIMO faculty along with the student volunteer escorts whose presence makes the program special for the guests.

Special thanks also goes to Foundation Trustee Terry Lillis, the main sponsor of the NSRT program.

For more photos from this NSRT program visit the CGSC Foundation album on Flickr