NSRT focuses on Artificial Intelligence

The U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC) and the CGSC Foundation hosted 32 civilian business and community leaders from around the country in the National Security Roundtable (NSRT) program from March 4-6, 2024. The theme for this NSRT was “Artificial Intelligence’s Impact on Warfare.” CGSC students from both the Command and General Staff Officers Course (CGSOC) 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 provide support.

The NSRT program is a CGSC Foundation outreach program conducted alongside the College. During each program civilian business leaders are invited to participate and are partnered with CGSC students to examine topical national security issues. This program develops a greater appreciation for the competence of the faculty and students and helps participants understand 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 business leaders.

Terrence M. Babilla, president of BSN Sports, right, links up with his student escort Maj. Gordon Griswould, during the reception in the Lewis and Clark Center on March 4, 2024, the first day of the 2024 National Security Roundtable program. One of the key aspects of the program is the pairing of students as escorts with each NSRT guest.

On March 4, 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 newly arriving guests were treated to some optional initial educational briefings by Dr. Randy Masten from Army University Press Films, who gave a presentation of the capabilities of Army University Press and presented a short regional power video on Iran. Dr. Gates Brown from CGSC’s Department of Military History next provided an overview of artificial intelligence from the Cold War to today. Following the information briefings the College and the Foundation hosted a reception in the Arter Atrium of the Lewis and Clark Center. CGSC Commandant Lt. Gen. Milford H. Beagle, Jr., was on hand to meet/greet all the NSRT participants. Each guest was paired up with their student escort at the beginning of the reception.

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. After the welcome, Dr. Robert Davis, CGSC associate dean of academics, provided a presentation on artificial intelligence as a scene setter for the entire program. Following a break and a group photo, CGSC Assistant Professor Pete Im, director of the Information Advantage Scholars Program, led the first discussion panel. Im introduced four of his students who provided attendees with a short brief on their research topics after which they conducted breakout sessions to further the discussions in smaller groups.

During lunch Dr. Davis 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. Dr. Lisa Babin from Army University also provided a short brief on the DoD Women, Peace and Security program which is being implemented in PME.

After lunch, 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 afternoon saw the second panel discussion entitled “The Current and Future Use of AI within the Department of Defense” moderated by Foundation Chairman Chris Hughes. Members of the panel were Dr. Jim Martin, former CGSC Dean of Academics and current Foundation trustee; Brian Weaver, CEO of Torch AI; Scott Cohen, CEO of Jaxon AI; Adam Wray, Founder/CEO of AstrumU; and Professor Peter Im.

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 SAMS faculty – Dr. Jim Greer spoke on the Ukraine Conflict and Dr. Jacob Stoil provided a brief on the Gaza Conflict.

On the last day of the NSRT program the NSRT guests spent time with their student escorts in their respective classrooms to get a closer look at CGSC subject matter and learning environment. The guests and their escorts reconvened in the Arnold Conference Room where they had lunch and listened to the third and final panel presentation by faculty and students from CGSC’s School of Advanced Military Studies led by Dr. Dan Cox. After the presentation students and guests went to separate classrooms for more detailed break-out discussion session.

The group reconvened once again after the break-out session and were led in final comments and discussion by CGSC Deputy Commandant Brig. Gen. David Foley and his sergeant major, Command Sgt. Maj. Jason Porras, and Dr. Robert Davis, CGSC associate dean of academics.

The NSRT ended with a graduation ceremony led by Brig. Gen. Foley who presented each guest with a NSRT certificate and Foundation President/CEO Lora Morgan presented each with a Foundation coin. The Foundation also presented each student escort a pair of CGSC logo dress socks in appreciation for their assistance in the program.

CGSC Deputy Commandant Brig. Gen. David Foley presents Mr. Hunter Wolbach, senior vice president of UBS Financial Services in Kansas City, with an NSRT certificate of appreciation at the conclusion of the program on March 6, 2024. From left: Command Sgt. Maj. Jason Porras; Foley; Wolbach; Wolbach’s student escort Maj. Blaire Griffin; CGSC Foundation President/CEO Lora Morgan; and CGSC Associate Dean of Academics Dr. Robert Davis.

2024 NSRT Participants

Mr. Terrence M. Babilla, President, BSN Sports, LLC
Mrs. Christine Benne, Military Relations Coordinator, Greater Manhattan Community Foundation
Mr. Pete Brownell, Chairman, Brownells; Trustee, CGSC Foundation
Mr. Nathan Butler, Kansas Representative, 68th District
Mr. Kevin Cabbage, CEO, Farmers Mutual Telephone Company
Mr. Scott Cohen, CEO, Jaxon AI
Mr. Nathan Crawford, IT Leader, Farmers Mutual Telephone Company
Mr. Trent Dansel, Consultant, Olsson
Mr. Paul Donnelly, Retired, Attorney
Ms. Mary Jean Eisenhower, Former President, People to People KC
Dr. Travis Fields, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Missouri – Kansas City
Mr. Rob Gillespie, CRO, AstrumU
Mr. Zach Kinser, Voice Leader, Farmers Mutual Telephone Company
Mr. Dustin Lewis, President & CEO, Homefield KC
Mr. Mike Mathis, President, Precision Event Productions, Inc.
Mr. A.H. “Chip” McElroy II, President & CEO, McElroy Mfg., Inc.
Mr. Wilton R. “Chip” Osborn, Owner/President/CEO, Retired, Persuadable Research Corp.
Dr. Claudia Petrescu, V. Provost for Grad. Education/Dean of Graduate School, Kansas State University
Dr. Michael J. Pritchard, Associate Dean for Research & Graduate Studies, Kansas State University
Mr. Anthony L. Privitera II, Vice President, Mark One Electric Co., Inc.
Mr. Nic Riesenberg, VP of Facilities and Support Services, NKC Hospital
Mr. Ryan Shaw, Managing Director of Strategic Initiatives, Arizona State University
Mr. John Shelton, Network Support Leader, Farmers Mutual Telephone Company
Dr. Timothy Steele, CEO & President, Associated Audiologists
Mr. Barry Sullivan, Retired Vice President, Central Bank
Mr. Phillip Thomas, President & CEO, A.L. Huber Inc.
Mr. Brian Weaver, CEO, Torch AI
Mr. Ryan West, Associate Director of Research/Applied AI & Cyber Security
Mr. Brandon Wheat, CTO, The Global Townhall
Mr. Hunter Wolbach, Senior Vice President, UBS Financial Services, Kansas City
Mr. Ross Worley, Founder, Wall-Ties & Forms Corporation
Mr. Adam Wray, CEO, AstrumU