2006/07 Winter National Security Academy

Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, Dr. Robert Joseph, (right) provides an update on proliferation threats. (CSP photo by David McCormack)

Pursuing sound national security policy requires, among other things, identifying and empowering leaders who will work for America’s strength and security – not only today, but for years to come. The Center believes that fulfilling this critical mission in the war of ideas must begin with the education of our future leaders.

It was in this spirit that the Center convened its 2nd National Security Academy, a three-day conference held January 7-9 in Washington, D.C.  This was a unique opportunity for promising students to interact with today’s leading security policy practitioners and preeminent academics in the field and participate in some of the most important debates about contemporary defense and foreign affairs.   These sessions and their Q&A periods exposed participants to various topics of national security policy and encouraged them to engage in action-oriented give-and-take discussions.  

The Academy provided a great opportunity for understanding national security policymaking, allowing students to glean information on the process directly from practitioners.            -Robert Brathwaite, Ph.D. ’11             University of Notre Dame

The carefully-selected undergraduate and graduate students attending this year’s events represented several institutions of higher learning, including: Columbia University, the University of California—Berkley, Harvard University, Yale University, American University, Georgetown University, the University of Florida, the London School of Economics, the University of Georgia, DePaul University, Regent University, Patrick Henry College, Westmont College, the University of Notre Dame, and Southwest Missouri State University’s Department of Defense and Strategic Studies.

The Academy began with a dinner reception on Sunday, January 7, during which participants were welcomed by remarks from Center President Frank J. Gaffney, Jr., followed by a keynote address from CSP Academic Council Member Thomas G. Barnes, Professor of History and Law, Emeritus, University of California—Berkley.

The first full day of the seminar, January 8, involved a joint program with students associated with the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, which exposed participants to the counterterrorism activities of various national security agencies.   Speakers included:

• David Cohen, former Chief of Staff to Director Ray Kelly, U.S. Customs Service.   Mr. Cohen discussed efforts to protect the homeland.
• Capt. Wade Ishimoto, Senior Advisor to the Office of the Secretary of Defense (Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict).   Capt. Ishimoto discussed the nature of clandestine operations.
• Mary Beth Long, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs.   Ms. Long discussed threats to American security emanating from various regions of the world.
• Jeff Breinholt, Deputy Chief for Counterterrorism, U.S. Department of Justice.   Mr. Breinholt discussed the legal tools that can be employed to fight terrorism.  

On January 9, the Center’s group of students disembarked for policy training from notable current and former senior national security practitioners.   The day began with a briefing in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building by officials from the National Security Council, who placed in context elements of the President’s plan to deal with key national security challenges.   From there, the students moved to offices near Capitol Hill, and were treated to a series of lectures from speakers including:

• Hon. Robert Joseph, Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security.   Mr. Joseph discussed measures the Administration is taking to lessen proliferation threats.
• Andrew C. McCarthy, former federal prosecutor and terrorism expert.   Mr. McCarthy discussed the Islamofascist threat in America.
• Hon. Michelle Van Cleave, former National Counterintelligence Executive.   Ms. Van Cleave discussed the state of U.S. intelligence.
• Dr. J. Michael Waller, Annenberg Professor of International Communication at the Institute for World Politics.   Dr. Waller discussed effective strategies for waging political warfare.
• Cliff Kincaid, President of America’s Survival.   Mr. Kincaid discussed the United Nation’s push for global government.

National Security Academy students listen to former National Counterintelligence Executive, Michelle Van Cleave, speak on the state of U.S. intelligence.(CSP photo by David McCormack)

By every measure, the 2007 National Security Academy was a huge success.   The Academy not only fulfilled its objective of exposing students to substantive discussions of the topics that are currently shaping today’s security policy environment – and those likely to determine tomorrow’s – but it also identified promising future security policy-practitioners and facilitated their entry into government.