Upcoming Events
Scowcroft Lecture Series: National Security Strategy
Past Events
Class of 2024 Plaque Dedication
The National War College Alumni Association is pleased to invite you back to campus to celebrate the Class of 2024! The College will be dedicating the Class of 2024 Plaque on May 8th in Arnold Auditorium with reception in Teddy’s to follow. We invite you to join us and your classmates as we remember the year and celebrate your accomplishments since!
Annual Meeting
Location: Arnold Auditorium
Date: June 17th, 2025
Time: 1100 ET
Scowcroft Lecture Series: National Security Strategy
The National War College Alumni Association and the Distinguished Speaker Program invite you to this year’s Scowcroft Lecture, featuring Dan Blumenthal, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. As an expert on East Asian security issues and Sino-American relations, Mr. Blumenthal brings over a decade of experience advising the U.S. government and previously served as senior director for China, Taiwan, and Mongolia at the Department of Defense.
Location: Arnold Auditorium
Date: June 5th, 2025
Time: 0900 ET
50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War Commemoration
Join us on April 11th as the National War College Alumni Association commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War with a panel of alumni to reflect on this pivotal period in history. Our guest speakers include Ambassador Michael Lemmon (Ret.), Admiral William Fallon, USN (Ret.), Col David Tretler, USAF (Ret.), Captain Bernard “Bud” Cole, USN (Ret.), Colonel Harry Rothmann, USA (Ret.), and Lt. Col Mark Clodfelter, USAF (Ret.). Alumni will have time to engage with classmates and peers at the social following the end of the program. We look forward to seeing you there.
Location: Roosevelt Hall
Date: April 11th, 2025
Time: 1330-1700
Monthly Strategic Conversations
Chaos in Korea: What is Happening in the South and North
Speaker: Dr. Dave Maxwell, Colonel (Ret), Class of 2004
Location: Arnold Auditorium
Date: March 14th, 2025
Time: 1400
Time for a New Goldwater-Nichols
Speakers: Richard Andres, Gen T. Michael Moseley, USAF (Ret.), and Maj Gen Lawrence Stutzriem, USAF (Ret.)
This panel discussion will address how the U.S. defense framework must adapt to evolving global threats from Russia, Iran, and China. Our panelists—Richard Andres, Gen T. Michael Moseley, USAF (Ret.), and Maj Gen Lawrence Stutzriem, USAF (Ret.)—will examine the impact of the 1986 Goldwater-Nichols Act and explore potential reforms to strengthen U.S. defense capabilities and long-term strategic readiness. The discussion will be moderated by Lt Gen David A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.
Location: Arnold Auditorium
Date: February 28th, 2025
Dissecting AI's DeepSeek Moment
Panelists: JP James, Blake Hanover, and PJ Maykish
On January 27th, US stock markets dropped sharply. Technology companies such as Meta and Nvidia led the decline, with the latter seeing a $593 billion drop in market value. The reason? A relatively new Chinese AI startup called “DeepSeek” had announced it had achieved near performance parity with US-based Open AI, and had done so with lower cost and lower performing chips. Our panel will break down the ‘DeepSeek’ event, teasing out the potential implications for our financial systems, business landscapes and national security.
Location: Arnold Auditorium
Date: February 3rd, 2025
Time: 1200
Panel Discussion on Gaza, Israel, Iran, and Syria
Panelists: Dr. Adam Oler, Dr. Omer Taspinar
Join Dr. Omer Taspinar and Professor Adam Oler as they discuss the rapidly evolving situation in the Middle East, including recent developments on the conflict’s frontlines, the impact of Assad’s fall in Syria, and the potential for political realignments across the region. Moderated by Peter Malnak, this panel will provide valuable insights into one of today’s most critical geopolitical regions.
Location: Arnold Auditorium
Date: January 31, 2025
Time: 1330
NWC Class of 2025 Holiday Party
Date: December 13, 2024
Time: 1600-2000
NWCAA NatSec Fellowship Program: Panel Discussion
Accounting for Disruptive Technologies in National Security
Rapid innovations in fields such as AI, quantum computing, advanced manufacturing, and biopharmaceuticals are reshaping our economy, society and national security priorities. Despite these implications, the reality is that most innovation in these fields happens in the private sector. Our panel will discuss how the USG can best shape, shepherd, and support innovation to ensure the United States maintains a competitive technological advantage for the future.
Date: November 21, 2024
Monthly Strategic Conversations: Vietnam: Navigating Great Power Competition
This presentation addressed the Middle East crises of the past year, highlighting both Iran’s ambition to serve as a regional hegemon while understanding its limitations due to Israel’s military capabilities, including US political and military support.
Date: November 7th, 2024
NWCAA NatSec Fellowship Program: Panel Discussion
Panelists from our NWCAA National Security Fellowship Program explored several themes, including real-world experience in private industry partnering with U.S. government agencies, the challenges and opportunities of leveraging civilian technology and the defense industrial base to strengthen national security, and strategies for fostering greater collaboration between private industry and government.
Date: October 10th, 2024
Oktoberfest
The annual Oktoberfest celebration was held at the National War College. It was a great event with live music, food, drinks, and a shared appreciation for tradition.
Date: October 4th, 2024
Monthly Strategic Conversations: Vietnam: Navigating Great Power Competition
This discussion on ‘Vietnam: Navigating Great Power Competition’ kicked off our 50th Year Commemoration of the Vietnam War. Our speaker, Dr. Zachary Abuza, explored the current state of US/Vietnam relations—highlighting how, 50 years after the fall of Saigon, Vietnam has strategically positioned itself amid great power competition.
Date: September 27th, 2024
Annual Murph Challenge
We invite you to participate in the annual Memorial Day Murph workout, held this year on Wednesday, May 29th at 0600 on Fort Mcnair! This event is organized and led by NWC faculty and class of 2018, Col Al Leth. Please note that the following workout is intended to be scaled to your ability, and the vest is optional.
Scowcroft Lecture Series
The Scowcroft Lecture: On National Security Strategy” is an annual event co-sponsored by the National War College Alumni Association and the National War College Distinguished Speaker Program. Our speaker will be Secretary James N. Mattis, General, United States Marine Corps (Ret) & 26th Secretary of Defense.
Date: May 24th, 2024
Monthly Strategy Conversations
Topic: Congressional Reality in Today’s Defense Environment
Our April Strategic Conversation will be on Tuesday, April 16th at 5pm ET, and virtual only. Our speakers, Michael Henson and Vago Muradian will share their insights on the intricate process that funds our national security community.
Monthly Strategy Conversations Lecture & Alumni Day at Teddy's!
Topic: George Washington and Strategy: Why History Matters
Our next Strategic Conversation will be on Friday, March 22nd. Our speaker, Dr. David Arnold will share his insights on using history to teach strategy and why history matters, drawing from his course on George Washington as a strategic leader.
HYROX: "The World Series of Fitness Racing"
In an effort to expand on the ways in which we engage with our members, the Alumni Association will be sponsoring a team of NWC students and alumni to compete in this upcoming event!
Dubbed “The World Series of Fitness Racing,” HYROX is a global series of races with an upcoming event in DC on March 2nd. This is a high energy event, known for its spectators, and one I have done twice.
Students, faculty/staff, and alumni are invited to join the NWC team, sponsored by the Alumni Association in any division they wish, including individual, doubles, relay, and for those that love pain, the GORUCK division, where the entire course is done with a weighted vest.
Date: March 2, 2024
Annual Theodore Roosevelt Association Cornerstone Event
Commemorating the 121st anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone on Thursday, February 22, 2024.
The agenda is as follows:
1230-1300: Visitors arrive in Roosevelt Hall
1300-1310: CMDT Rock welcoming remarks
1310-1330: VADM Architzel historical address (bio)
1330-1430: Coffee reception, and optional building tours for interested parties
U.S.-Japan Alliance in the Indo-Pacific: Unilateral, Bilateral & Multilateral Capabilities
Topic: George Washington and Strategy: Why History Matters
On the evening of Feburary 26th (Washington, D.C.)/morning of February 27th (Tokyo), the Japan-America Society of Washington DC, Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA, the National War College, and the National War College Alumni Association will host the ninth annual partnership event focusing on the U.S.-Japan Alliance in the Indo Pacific.
The United States-Japan Alliance serves as a lynchpin for Indo-Pacific regional security, reinforcing the leadership role of the two countries among like-minded nations. In the past several years, and in the context of expanding threats in the Asia Pacific, doors have been opening to a new level of trilateral and multilateral partnerships that may redefine American defense capabilities and diplomatic priorities in the region.
This year’s event, Unilateral, Bilateral & Multilateral Capabilities, will delve into the distinct capabilities that the United States and Japan bring to the bilateral alliance, as well as opportunities and hurdles for expanded burden sharing. The event will also explore emerging partnerships, in particular Australia and Korea, and their potential to address regional challenges.
Date & Time (US): February 26, 2024, 17:30-20:00
Date & Time (Japan): February 27, 2024, 7:30-10:00
Location: Arnold Auditorium, National War College (priority to NWC/NDU students/faculty), Interactive Virtual
The Nexus of Business and National Security: Navigating the Future of AI in National Security
Co-organized by the National War College Alumni Association and the Young Presidents’ Organization
Our panelists will aim to demystify AI and discuss its various forms, the importance of data, hardware, and its implications for national security and great power competition.
Date: Thursday, February 8, 2024
Time: 1100-1230
Location: Arnold Auditorium in Roosevelt Hall
For those unable to attend in person, a virtual link will be provided. This event is part of a series of panel discussions we will have through the spring to include business leaders in the national security space.
Monthly Strategy Conversations Lecture & Alumni Day at Teddy's!
Topic: Sources of Russian Conduct, 2024 Update
Our next Strategic Conversation will be on Tuesday, 16 January. This event will feature three alumni along with a current faculty member providing insights into Russia, Putin, and the Russia/Ukraine conflict.
Following the event, we invite you to join us at Teddy’s for our first Alumni Day! We hope to offer this opportunity every month with our Monthly Strategy Conversations. Teddy’s will be open 4-7pm.
NWC Alumni Association Lecture, Open House, and Potluck reception
Our featured speaker will be Professor Adam Oler who will share his insights on the current crisis in the Middle East—“The U.S., Israel, and the Palestinians: Thoughts on What’s Ahead.” As many of you know, Adam has a unique breath of experience in this area. He is a War College Distinguished Gradate from he class of 2011 and is now Professor of Strategy and Associate Dean of Academics. He leads the Middle East area studies at the College.
A former Air Force lawyer, he served as Deputy Chief Counsel and Chief, Operations and International Air Combat Command, among other assignments. Adam applies our War College analytical framework to this most vexing challenge. We will convene in Arnold Auditorium for this presentation. Those unable to join us in person can also see this lecture on a Teams Link.
Date: Wednesday December 13, 2023 at 1600.
Monthly Strategy Conversations
Topic: Geo-Economics and China
This is a virtual event examining the Chinese economic and business dynamic from a historical perspective as well as insights into the current state of affairs. Importantly, the discussion will focus on effective ways for the business community to address risk from China.
Date: Monday. December 11, 2023 at 4:30 PM
The Nexus of Business and National Security: How Business Risk Calculus Informs National Strategy
Co-organized by the National War College Alumni Association and the Young Presidents’ Organization
Our panelists will discuss how policy advisement groups such as the Defense Business Board inform US policies. They’ll also explore perspectives on how business risk calculus can be leveraged to inform national security strategies.
Date: Thursday, November 9th 2023
Time: 10:45-11:45 AM
Location: Diebel Auditorium (meet in Roosevelt Hall Rotunda at 10:30am)
For those unable to attend in person, a video link will be provided prior to the event. This event is part of a series of panel discussions we will have through the spring to include business leaders in the national security space.