SAMS hosts spring NSRT program

The U.S. Army Command and General Staff College’s School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) and the CGSC Foundation cohosted a National Security Roundtable (NSRT) program April 4-5, 2017 at the Lewis and Clark Center on Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

The first day began with the attendees gathering in the atrium with a short welcome by Doug Tystad, Foundation CEO. The group then moved to the Arnold Conference Room where Mr. Jeff LaMoe, CGSC Chief of Staff, provided the roundtable participants with some history of CGSC and an overview of Army professional education with special emphasis on the College. After LaMoe’s brief, the DACOR visiting professor of diplomacy, retired Ambassador Laura Kennedy, spoke to the group about geopolitical issues around the world. The evening ended with a reception in the atrium.

On day 2 of the roundtable, the group met for morning coffee in the Felts Exercise Room in Flint Hall and received an overview briefing from SAMS Director Col. James Markert. The attendees then accompanied their SAMS student escorts to their seminar rooms where they spent the morning participating in the current classroom topic of “Anticipate the Future.”

The group came back together in the Arnold Conference Room where Foundation CEO Doug Tystad provided them with an overview of the CGSC Foundation and its programs in support of the college. The remainder of the day was spent in two panel discussions, one about the SAMS program entitled “Educating Tactical Experts for Strategic Problems,” led by Col. Markert and Dr. Gerald Gorman, and the second entitled “The Operational Environment,” led by Lt. Col. Jason Curl, Maj. Amos Fox and Maj. John Brock.

Upon completion of the program Foundation Chairman Lt. Gen. (Ret.) John Miller and CGSC Deputy Commandant Maj. Gen. John Kem presented each of the attendees with a group photo and completion certificate.

The Foundation wishes to express special thanks to Col. Markert and his staff for their work to set up and host the program. Also, special thanks goes to Geiger Ready Mix for their sponsorship of the NSRT program.

In the group photo above are the participants and their SAMS student escorts along with SAMS faculty and staff and CGSC Foundation representatives. –

Front row (L-R): Maj. Joshua Powers, Mr. Brad Harding (Vice President, UMB Financial Services, Kansas City, Mo.), Maj. Kha Nguyen, Barry Berg (Executive Vice President, Chief Architect, Arbita, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn.), Maureen Mahoney (Chief of Staff to the Mayor, City of Kansas City, Kansas), Col. (Ret.) Tim Carlin (CGSC Foundation trustee), and Maj. Brian Davis.

Second row (L-R): Lt. Gen. (Ret.) John Miller (CGSC Foundation Chairman), Katie Ervin (CGSC Foundation trustee), Bridget Farengo (Certified Nutritionist & Trainer, Snap Fitness, Yoga Fit & Culture House, Olathe, Kansas), Col. Tim Markert (SAMS Director), Maj. Nathan Jennings, Lt. Col. Jason Curl, Dennis Lister (CEO, Lincoln Financial Group, Overland Park, Kan.), and Maj. Thomas Nypaver.

Third row (L-R): Maj. Mark Ivey, Maj. Daniel Vonbenken, Maj. Timothy Williams, Bill Mahood (Area Practice Leader Mergers Acquisitons Divestitures, Polsinelli, P.C., Kansas City, Mo.), Maj. Matthew Cahill, Dan Maresh (Commodore, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Branson, Mo.), Marc Melkonian (Business Development Manager, Bechtel National, Inc. Defense & Security, Reston, Va.), and Maj. Christopher Hanna.

Fourth row (L-R): Jim Weir (President, CompAlliance Managed Care, Merriam, Kan.), Maj. Erick Buckner, Maj. Adam Taliaferro, Jeff Carr (Owner, President & CEO, Carmeco, Osagian Canoes Mfg., Lebanon, Mo.), Maj. Peter Bakke, and John Murphy (Partner, Shook, Hardy & Bacon, L.L.P., Kansas City, Mo.).

Fifth row (L-R): David Lindstrom (Member, DML Properties, LLC, Overland Park, Kan.), Maj. John Wilson, Maj. Christian Johnson, Dr. Scott Johnson (SAMS Deputy Director for Academics), Maj. Amos Fox, Maj. John Brock, Maj. John Gallagher, John Robinson (CGSC Foundation trustee), and Maj. Henry Hansen

For more photos from the NSRT visit the CGSC Foundation Flickr site:

Day 1 photos

Day 2 photos