NBAF topic of inaugural Arter-Rowland National Security Forum

The inaugural virtual presentation of the Arter-Rowland National Security Forum was conducted today, Sept. 23, 2020, using an online video conference platform.

Dr. Ron W. Trewyn presents his briefing during the inaugural event in the Arter-Rowland National Security Forum on Sept. 23, 2020.

Co-hosted by the CGSC Foundation and the Kansas City Chapter of the Association of the United States Army (KCAUSA), this first presentation of the forum was focused on the National Bio and Agro-defense Facility in Manhattan, Kansas. Dr. Ron W. Trewyn, the National Bio and Agro-defense Facility Liaison from the Office of the President of Kansas State University, conducted the presentation. Foundation President/CEO Rod Cox and KCAUSA Chapter President Scott Weaver shared the co-hosting duties.

In his presentation Trewyn covered the history and the purpose of the new facility, explaining unclassified details about the need for the type of research that will be conducted there. He also showed some photos of the facility construction progress and explained the process of how this site was selected over others from other states.

“The mission of the NBAF is to protect U.S. livestock from foreign animal diseases, including zoonotic diseases,” said Trewyn. “[Zoonotic] diseases are those that spread from animals to people, and from people to animals.”

Trewyn further explained that the facility will serve to safeguard food animal health and public health, as well as preserve the nation’s food supply and agricultural economy. Click here for a pdf copy of the presentation.

After his presentation, Trewyn took questions from participants and stayed longer than scheduled to ensure anyone that wanted to ask a question had the opportunity.

Both Cox and Weaver agreed the presentation was well-attended and received. A survey was sent out to participants in the afternoon after the presentation to gather feedback for the next ARNSF event.

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.