The future of recruitment, retention, and education in national security

Monday, March 27, 2023

9:00 am - 1:15 pm EDT

The Brookings Institution

Falk Auditorium

1775 Massachusetts Avenue N.W.
Washington, DC
20036

On March 27, the Brookings Institution’s Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology will resume holding its annual forum that convenes the federal executive fellows (FEFs) from military services and federal agencies that spend a year as scholars with the Foreign Policy program with other experts to reflect on some of the most critical issues facing the national security community.

This year’s forum will focus on the future of recruitment, retention, and education in the military and national security communities and on the importance of investing in personnel to maintain a competitive edge. The FEFs will host and moderate three panels and a keynote conversation with panelists from think tanks, academia, the private sector, and the U.S. military to discuss these matters and their role in national security in this era of great power competition.

Online viewers can submit questions by emailing [email protected] or on Twitter @BrookingsFP using #HumanCapital.

Brookings requires all staff and visitors to show proof that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 via vaccines approved by the FDA or WHO. After submitting your registration, please proceed to the provided link on the confirmation page to complete the registration process by verifying your vaccination information.

Agenda

March 27
- Opening remarks
  
  9:00 am - 9:05 am
  
  Michael E. O’Hanlon Director of Research - Foreign Policy, Director - Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology, Co-Director - Africa Security Initiative, Senior Fellow - Foreign Policy, Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology, Philip H. Knight Chair in Defense and Strategy @MichaelEOHanlon
- Panel 1: Education, recruiting, and retaining talent for the future intelligence community
  
  9:05 am - 10:00 am
  
  The first panel will consider the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for the next generation of intelligence officers in the United States and discuss whether continuing education helps retain a competent, engaged, and motivated workforce in the intelligence community.
  
  Moderator
  
  Scott Englund Assistant Dean - College of Strategic Intelligence, Federal Executive Fellow - Foreign Policy, Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology
  
  Panelist
  
  John C. Gannon Former Assistant Director of Analysis and Production - Central Intelligence Agency, Former Chairman - National Intelligence Council
  
  Amy Kardell Dean of the College of Strategic Intelligence - National Intelligence University
  
  Cynthia G. Snyder Assistant Director of National Intelligence for Human Capital - Office of the Director of National Intelligence
- Panel 2: Recruiting talented people
  
  10:05 am - 11:05 am
  
  The second panel will assess limiting factors and practical solutions for recruiting talented people into the national security enterprise.
  
  Moderator
  
  Marcos A. Melendez III Colonel - United States Marine Corps, Federal Executive Fellow - Foreign Policy, Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology
  
  Panelist
  
  Beth J. Asch Senior Economist, Professor of Policy Analysis - Pardee RAND Graduate School
  
  Katherine L. Kuzminski Senior Fellow and Director of the Military, Veterans, and Society (MVS) Program - Center for a New American Security (CNAS)
  
  Thomas Spoehr Director, Center for National Defense - Heritage Foundation, Lt. Gen. - U.S. Army (retired)
- Panel 3: Retaining talented people
  
  11:15 am - 12:15 pm
  
  Once personnel have been recruited into the national security enterprise, retention is essential. The third panel will focus on ways to meet the needs of the individuals and retain a robust military, civilian, and private sector workforce capable of ensuring national security.
  
  Moderator
  
  Brad McNally Captain - U.S. Coast Guard, Federal Executive Fellow - Foreign Policy, Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology
  
  Panelist
  
  Meredith Kleykamp Associate Professor and Associate Chair of Sociology, Director of the Center for Research on Military Organization - University of Maryland
  
  Heidi Urben Professor of Practice and Director of External Education and Outreach - Georgetown University
  
  Jeff Williamson Vice President for Human Resources - Booz Allen Hamilton
- Keynote
  
  12:30 pm - 1:15 pm
  
  Panelist
  
  Lori Robinson Nonresident Senior Fellow - Foreign Policy, Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology
  
  Moderator
  
  Jason Wolff Colonel - United States Air Force, Federal Executive Fellow - Foreign Policy, Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology