Arter-Rowland National Security Forum focuses on U.S. Indo-Pacific Command



Arter-Rowland National Security Forum focuses on U.S. Indo-Pacific Command

Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Steve Michael, a former deputy J-5 (Strategy, Plans and Policy) of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, delivers his presentation on U.S. Indo-Pacific Command for the Arter-Rowland National Security Forum luncheon event on June 23, 2022, at the Carriage Club in Kansas City.The CGSC Foundation’s Simons Center hosted an Arter-Rowland National Security Forum luncheon event on June 23, 2022, at the Carriage Club in Kansas City.

Simons Center Director Bob Ulin welcomed the ARNSF members, some of whom also introduced their guests, and then introduced the guest speaker, Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Steve Michael.

Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Steve Michael, a former deputy J-5 (Strategy, Plans and Policy) of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, delivers his presentation on U.S. Indo-Pacific Command for the Arter-Rowland National Security Forum luncheon event on June 23, 2022, at the Carriage Club in Kansas City.

Top photo and above – Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Steve Michael, a former deputy J-5 (Strategy, Plans and Policy) of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, delivers his presentation on U.S. Indo-Pacific Command for the Arter-Rowland National Security Forum luncheon event on June 23, 2022, at the Carriage Club in Kansas City.

In this presentation of the forum, Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Steve Michael, who previously served in U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, discussed the nation’s Indo-Pacific relationships and how those alliances and strategy may well define the next century. Michael discussed how healthy and measured competition with China will help avoid conflict while enabling our nation to advance its interests. He briefly outlined China’s military capabilities, but focused on how the nation must employ grand strategy to identify the best courses of action to avoid the Thucydides Trap wherein emerging powers conflict with established great powers.

Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Steve Michael spent more than 32 years in the United States Army leading light and airborne infantry formations and commanding at every level through brigade. Michael is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point with a bachelor’s in civil engineering and from 2012-2013 he was a Senior Service College Fellow at Columbia University.

While serving as the Deputy J-5 (Strategy, Plans and Policy) of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Micheal was pivotal in setting current Indo-Pacific defense strategies to deter North Korean aggression and improve competition with China. He led the premier discussion at The China Strategic Roundtable (with the Secretary of Defense, the Service Chiefs and the Combatant Commanders) – recognized by most to be the best they had attended – and was pivotal in the design of the strategy that is now the principal driver for the free and open Indo-Pacific. Michael has strong experience in grand strategy and strategic planning, helping organizations generate and apply the deep vision needed to transform and achieve strategic aims.

Michael is now the executive director for UBS Financial Services at the Kansas City Plaza Branch, in Kansas City, Missouri.

After the presentation and a question and answer period, Ulin presented Michael with a Foundation commemorative coin and new Simons Center coffee mug in appreciation for his time with the Forum. Ulin closed out the luncheon with a short brief about the schedule for future gatherings of the Forum.

For more photos see the CGSC Foundation Flickr album


The Arter-Rowland National Security Forum (ARNSF) is led by the CGSC Foundation’s Simons Center and is an exclusive professional information sharing and networking forum for senior executives.

Members of the Forum and their guests meet periodically at guest speaker events in downtown Kansas City. National and regional guest speakers representing all elements of national power (Diplomatic, Informational, Military and Economic) highlight the meetings. The Forum is nonpartisan, but elected government officials may present from time to time.

The Forum is named after Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Robert Arter, Founding Chairman of the CGSC Foundation, and Mr. Landon Rowland, the Foundation’s first major donor who was well-known in Kansas City for his keen interest in national security issues and his leadership in business and philanthropy.

ARNSF events are only open to ARNSF members and their guests. If you are not a member but are interested in joining, contact Bob Ulin at rulin@cgscf.org or visit the Forum page on the Simons Center website for more information.

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