Foundation, College host Spring 2023 National Security Roundtable

Civilian business and community leaders from around the country participated in the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC) National Security Roundtable (NSRT) from April 17-20, 2023. The theme for this NSRT was “Intellectual Overmatch in Great Power Competition.”

CGSC Commandant Lt. Gen. Milford H. Beagle, Jr., provides an introduction to NSRT guests on April 18, 2023, in the Marshall Auditorium of the Lewis and Clark Center on Fort Leavenworth.

The NSRT is cohosted by the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the Command and General Staff College Foundation.

The first day of the NSRT was a travel day, with some voluntary activities offered to participants. They had choices including tours of Fort Leavenworth and the Lewis and Clark Center, military history lectures, or war gaming exercises. The day ended with the Commandant’s Reception hosted by the CGSC Commandant Lt. Gen. Milford H. Beagle, Jr., and the CGSC Foundation.

On April 18, 2023, NSRT activities were primarily conducted in Marshall Auditorium of the Lewis and Clark Center. The day kicked off with a welcome by CGSC Foundation President/CEO Rod Cox and CGSC Commandant Lt. Gen. Milford H. Beagle, Jr. After the opening statements, each participant and their military student escorts stood and introduced themselves to the group.

After all the introductions CGSC Dean of Academics Dr. Jack Kem provided a presentation on “Intellectual Overmatch in Great Power Competition” to provide the participants with an understanding of the basic concepts of the theme and how the students at CGSC fit into the larger picture of national security.

After Kem’s presentation, faculty from the Command and General Staff School’s (CGSS) Department of Joint, Interagency and Multinational Operations led a panel presentation on “Operational Design” that gave participants insights on the planning processes used by the Army and the other services. The group was led by Assistant Professors Col. (Ret.) Greg Penfield, Chief Warrant Officer 3 (Ret.) Heather Karambelas, Col. Josh Stephenson, and Australian Lt. Col Paul Mostafa.

NSRT participant Christopher Leonard, an author with publisher Simon & Shuster, converses with his CGSC student escort Maj. Curry during a break in the program. Student escorts are a vital part of the NSRT program to ensure the guests have a personal connection and understanding. Likewise, the guests typically have perspectives that can positively influence the students.

NSRT participant Christopher Leonard, an author with publisher Simon & Shuster, converses with his CGSC student escort Maj. Eric Curry during a break in the program. Student escorts are a vital part of the NSRT program to ensure the guests have a personal connection and understanding. Likewise, the guests typically have perspectives that can positively influence the students.

In the afternoon period after taking a group photo, Kevin E. Kennedy from the Combat Studies Institute led participants through a virtual staff ride of the Battle of Chip’yong-ni in the Korean War.

During the evening all the participants gathered at the Frontier Conference Center for a dinner and presentation by Dr. Richard S. Faulkner, CGSC professor of military history.

On the third day, the participants spent the morning in the classrooms of their student escorts to gain a closer understanding of a typical classroom environment and the topics the students cover. After the classroom visits, participants met back in Marshall Auditorium for a lunchtime discussion with CGSC Deputy Commandant Brig. Gen. David C. Foley and Dean of Academics Dr. Jack D. Kem.

In the afternoon students and faculty from the CGSC School of Advanced Military Studies led a panel presentation entitled “Achieving Convergence.” SAMS Deputy Director Richard Dixon introduced the group which included Dr. Bruce Stanley, Dr. Jim Greer, Maj. Zach Wagner, Maj. Molly Mcintyre, and Maj. Duncan Moore.

After the panel presentation Foley and Kem closed out the day with some final thoughts and questions from the group. The graduation ceremony was conducted immediately after, followed by a reception.

Participants of the Spring 2023 NSRT:

Ms. Jennifer Anders, President/CEO, Leavenworth/Lansing Area, Chamber of Commerce
Mr. Tom Bastron, Regional Director of Operations, IHG Army Hotels
Mr. Richard Bierman, Chief Legal Officer, GEHA
Dr. Thomas Black, Ophthalmologist (Retired)
Ms. Carla Cannonito, Commercial Director, IHG Army Hotels
Mr. Benjamin Coleman, Senior VP, Commerce Bank
Mr. Norman Craig, Insurance/Wealth Consultant, Prevail Innovative Wealth Strategies
Mr. Charles Fernandez, Executive Chairman & CEO, NextPlat
Mr. Steve Harmon, Partner, Centriq
Dr. Adreain Henry, President, Mercy College of Health Sciences
Mr. August Huber, Retired Board Chairman, A.L. Huber
Ms. Jody Kaaz, President, Julius Kaaz Construction
Dr. Jeffrey Kramer, Cardiothoracic Surgeon, University of Kansas Health System
Mr. Tony Kramer, Tax Manager, Hood & Associates CPAs
Mr. Christopher Leonard, Author, Simon & Shuster
Lt. Col. (Ret.) Mark McMahon, Executive Board Member, Friends In Service of Heroes
Mr. David Mehrer, VP, Financial Advisor, Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC
Mr. John F. Miller, Sr., President/CEO, Storsafe
Mr. Scott Naumann, Alderman, City of Bettendorf, Iowa
Mr. Dave Seitter, Partner, Spencer Fane LLP
Mr. Kenneth Selzer, Businessman, Former Kansas Insurance Commissioner
Mr. John Wagner, Retired CEO, Wagner Logistics
Mr. Larry Zimpleman, Chairman & CEO Retired, Principal Financial Group

Several CGSC Foundation officers and trustees also attended the NSRT including: Foundation Chairman Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Bryan Wampler; Chairman Emeritus Lt. Gen. (Ret.) John Miller; Immediate Past Chair and current Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for the Eastern Region of Kansas Mr. Michael D. Hockley; Trustee Emeritus Mr. Eugene Wilson; Mr. Terry Lillis, Foundation Treasurer; and Michael Meyer, Director of Development. Also attending were trustees Ms. Wendy Doyle, President & CEO, UnitedWE; Col. (Ret.) William Eckhardt, Founding Trustee and Professor Emeritus – UMKC; Dr. John Hunkeler, M.D.; Mr. Benny Lee; and Col. (Ret.) Pat Proctor, Professor, Wichita State University.

For more photos see these CGSC Foundation Flickr Albums:

Day 1 – April 17

Day 2 – April 18

Day 3 – April 19

Dr. Adreian Henry, president of Mercy College of Health Sciences (third from left), receives his NSRT certificate of completion from CGSC Deputy Commandant Brig. Gen. David C. Foley. All NSRT guests receive a certificate, along with a group photo and individual photo upon completion of the program. They also receive information about how to stay involved with the Foundation and the College as NSRT alumni. From left: Army University Command Sgt. Maj. Jason C. Porras, CGSC Dean of Academics Dr. Jack D. Kem, Henry, Foley, CGSC student escort Maj. Brian Warner, and CGSC Foundation Chairman Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Bryan Wampler.