NSRT brings together civilian, military leaders to develop mutual understanding

The U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC) and the CGSC Foundation hosted 17 civilian business and community leaders from around the country in the National Security Roundtable (NSRT) program from March 10-12, 2025. The theme for this NSRT was “Economic Deterrence—the 21st Century Defense-Industrial Ecosystem.” CGSC students from both the Command and General Staff School (CGSS) and the School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) were the escorts for each individual guest. More than 10 NSRT alumni and CGSC Foundation trustees also attended to lend their support and participate with the new guests.

The NSRT program is a CGSC Foundation outreach program conducted alongside the College. During each program civilian business and community leaders are invited to participate and are partnered with CGSC students to examine topical national security issues. As the guests navigate the subject matter with their student escorts, they develop a greater appreciation for the competence of the faculty and students as well as an understanding of the role that Fort Leavenworth and the College play in educating mid-level military leaders. In turn, CGSC students and faculty develop a better appreciation for the challenges confronting civilian leaders as they interact over the course of three days.

On March 10, guests were welcomed at the hotel just outside Fort Leavenworth by CGSC Foundation Chairman Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Chris Hughes and President/CEO Lora Morgan and other members of the Foundation staff. The guests took advantage of a Fort Leavenworth tour led by Command Historian Dr. Joe Bailey. The post tour ended at the Lewis and Clark Center where CGSC Associate Dean Dr. Robert Davis led a tour of the facility.

During the Lewis and Clark Center tour the group stopped by a large planning room where Maj. Ben Keir, a student in the current Command and General Staff Officers Course, provided the group with an orientation to a large “sand table” he and fellow students are using to rehearse and refine their plans in one of their class exercises.

At the end of the tour, CGSC Foundation President/CEO Lora Morgan provided an overview of the next three days’ agenda, after which CGSC Commandant Lt. Gen. Milford H. Beagle, Jr., arrived to meet/greet all the guests. CGSC Deputy Commandant Col. Jason Rosenstrauch, Command and General Staff School Director Col. David Norris, and School of Advanced Military Studies Director Col. Dwight Domengeaux, Jr., were also on hand to meet the participants. The participants also met their student escorts and spent the rest of the evening getting acquainted during the social event hosted by the Foundation.

March 11, the second day of the NSRT, began with welcome and introductions from CGSC Foundation Chairman Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Chris Hughes and CGSC Commandant Lt. Gen. Beagle. During his remarks Beagle centered on the NSRT theme, explaining the cost of economic deterrence and keeping the joint force ready, modern, and dominant.

“During World War I and World War II we leveraged the entire United States to help execute the war because our industrial base had changed itself to support that and make sure we could do what we needed to do in conflict,” he said. “Today you don’t necessarily see that”.

He went on to share what has changed, associated challenges, and what is being done to adapt and address these factors. The ability to work effectively with industry to overcome adversity and find creative solutions is the foundation of economic deterrence, which was the NSRT’s focus.

After Beagle’s remarks, Dr. Dave Cotter, CGSC dean of academics, provided a “scene setter” presentation on economic deterrence and the defense-industrial environment. Following a break and a group photo, members of the first panel, entitled “Security and Economic Dynamics of the Indo-Pacific Region,” led by Lt. Col. Phil Kerber from the Command and General Staff School (CGSS), made their presentations. Members of the panel were CGSS faculty members Lt. Col. Timothy Devine, Lt. Col. Nathan Moore, Mr. Brent Coryell, and Dr. John Ringquist.

After lunch Dean Cotter provided the group with an overview of Army University and CGSC’s place within it as part of the Army’s professional military education (PME) program for officers. CGSC Foundation Chairman Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Chris Hughes also provided an overview of the CGSC Foundation mission. During their remarks, both stressed the underlying principle of education at the College is preparing leaders to overcome uncertainty and ambiguity.

In the afternoon period, Dr. Jim Sterrett, director of CGSC’s Simulation Education, and members of his staff led the group in a decision exercise using a case study from war in the Pacific during WWII. The exercise was designed to get the participants to make decisions given conflicting information and competing priorities to serve as a small example of the thinking that CGSC students have to undertake in their studies at the College.

At the end of day two, attendees, their student escorts, and the College and Foundation leaders had dinner at the Frontier Conference Center with a feature presentation by CGSC Associate Professor of Military History, Lt. Col. Brian Steed, Ph.D., entitled “The Current Middle East and the Non-State Ecosystem.”

On March 12, the third and last day of the NSRT, guests spent the morning with their student escorts in their respective classrooms to get a closer look at CGSC subject matter and learning environment. This period has typically made the biggest impression on NSRT guests, because they get to see first hand what the students are studying and how they go about their business.

Robert Powell, founder of Bromegrass Capital in Kansas City, was particularly impressed as he observed a student-led planning exercise. He said the level of detail and cooperation of the student operational planning team was astounding.

“I was interested in how the students framed priority intelligence requirements. They were all phrased as questions,” he said. “This gave me some knowledge of why it was done that way and is something I can bring back.”

He was impressed with the NSRT and the opportunity to see professional military education in action with a scenario officers could encounter in their next assignments.

“The instructors were impressive and engaging. The teaching aspect made it an awesome experience,” Powell said.

After their time in the classrooms, the guests reconvened in the Arnold Conference Room for lunch, after which the School for Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) presented a second panel discussion entitled “Industrial Challenges of Large-Scale War,” moderated by Dr. Chris Prigge. Panel members included Lt. Col. Dave Dunham, Lt. Col. Tim Wu, and Lt. Col. John Bolton, who are all students in the SAMS Advanced Strategic Planning and Policy Program.

After the panel, CGSC Deputy Commandant Col. Jason Rosenstrauch led the group in a final comments and discussion session about distance learning and education.

The NSRT ended with a graduation ceremony led by Col. Rosenstrauch and Foundation Chairman Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Hughes who presented each guest with a NSRT certificate. Foundation President/CEO Lora Morgan also presented each guest and student escort with a CGSC lapel pin.

At the conclusion of the NSRT guest Keith Prather, managing partner of Armada Corporate Intelligence in Lawrence, Kansas, spoke to Foundation President/CEO Lora Morgan in an email about his positive experience.

“You don’t know how transformative this was for me personally,” Prather said. “It really helped me get back to my roots and what I am supposed to be doing for my corporate clients. Thank you again and I’d love to make the next NSRT event.”

2025 NSRT Participants

• Mr. Luke A. Bomer, Esq., Managing Partner, Johnson & Jones law firm, Tulsa, Okla.
• Ms. Susan Campbell, President & CEO, SJC Marketing, St. Joseph, Mo.
• Mr. Alex Eaton, President, World Travel, Tulsa, Okla.
• Ms. Karen Gallagher, Former State & Federal Government Policy Advisor, Prairie Village, Kan.
• Mr. Brent Hazzard, President Asset Finance & ABL Group Head, Citizens Financial Group, Boston, Mass.
• Mr. Koty Henry, Cybersecurity Policy Advisor, National Assoc. of Insurance Commissioners, Kansas City
• Ms. Deanne Dutton Hughes, Director, Corporate IT, McElroy Mfg., Inc., Tulsa, Okla.
• Mr. Steve Jacobs, Senior Executive Service, Retired, Kansas City, Mo.
• Mr. James M. Johnston, President, Johnston and Associates, Tulsa, Okla.
• Mr. Dave Keith, President & CEO, Wellabe Corporation, Des Moines, Iowa
• Mr. & Mrs. Richard Looney, Trustee, CGSC Foundation, Business Executive (Retired), Leawood, Kan.
• Mr. Mark Miller, Strategic Advisor, Peoples Company, Des Moines, Iowa
• Mr. Scott Peterson, City Manager, Leavenworth, Kan.
• Mr. George Pettigrew, Chair, Board of Advisors, Frontier Museum of the U.S. Army Foundation, Leavenworth, Kan.
• Mr. Robert P. Powell, Founder, Bromegrass Capital, Kansas City, Mo.
• Mr. Keith Prather, Managing Partner, Armada Corporate Intelligence, Inc., Lawrence, Kan.
• Mr. Johnathan Schilling, Owner & CEO, JR & Co., Kansas City, Mo.

The CGSC Foundation leadership wishes to thank the sponsors of the 2025 NSRT: Foundation Trustee Terry Lillis, the Tim and Karen Carlin Family Foundation, the Perot Foundation and
the Pritzker Military Foundation.

For more photos from this NSRT visit the albums on the CGSC Foundation Flickr site.

Day 1/March 10 (building tour/evening reception)

Day 2/March 11 (welcome/intros, Group photo, panel, simulation exercise, dinner)

Day 3/March 12 (presentation, panel, graduation)