Des Moines National Security Forum – Nov. 4

You are invited to a luncheon presentation of the Des Moines National Security Forum. – Please register below.

In this presentation of the forum, David J. Kramer, executive director of the George W. Bush Institute, and Simons Center Director Todd Schmidt, Ph.D., will conduct a fireside chat examining the Russia-Ukraine war. They will explore not only the historical context of the conflict, but also the current history and recent situation that has resulted in an apparent stalemate. The conversation will examine the impact of the war on international relations, NATO, the global economy, and the future of warfare. Finally, they will discuss how the conflict might be resolved in the future.

David J. Kramer serves as the executive director of the George W. Bush Institute. Prior to joining the Bush Institute, he taught at Florida International University’s Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs, where he also was senior fellow in the Václav Havel Program for Human Rights and Diplomacy and director for European and Eurasian Affairs.

Before moving to Miami, Kramer worked in Washington, D.C., for 24 years, including as senior director for human rights and democracy with the McCain Institute for International Leadership; president of Freedom House; and senior transatlantic fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Kramer also served eight years in the U.S. Department of State during the George W. Bush administration, including as assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights, and labor; deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian Affairs, responsible for Russia, Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus affairs as well as regional non-proliferation issues; professional staff member in the secretary’s Office of Policy Planning; and senior advisor to the Undersecretary for Global Affairs. He also was executive director of the U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy in Washington.

Kramer chairs the board of the Free Russia Foundation. He also serves as a member of the advisory councils for the Alliance for Securing Democracy at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, Refugees International and Foreign Policy for America. He is a contributing editor of American Purpose and author of the book, Back to Containment: Dealing with Putin’s Regime.

A native of Massachusetts, Kramer received a master’s degree in Soviet studies from Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree in Soviet studies and political science from Tufts University.