High-capability technologies are becoming increasingly accessible to individuals for a low price and with a low skill requirement, a small footprint, and a high level of signature reduction. Lt Col Snow provided a few examples of such technologies, while focusing on a series of do-it-yourself (DIY) tools, and spoke about hacking as a service at both the national and regional level.

SMA hosted a speaker session presented by Dr. Ore Koren (Indiana University, Bloomington) as a part of its SMA CENTCOM Speaker Series. During his presentation, Dr. Koren focused on a “Victorious, Complementary, Agent” (VCA) approach to the reintegration of the Taliban in Afghanistan. His arguments were based on a combination of cross-national evidence from data on groups from Europe and the Caucasus from 1989-2014, evidence from a case study on Israel, and his ongoing research.

SMA hosted a speaker session presented by Dr. Brad Roberts (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory) as a part of its Future of Great Power Competition & Conflict Speaker Series. During his presentation, Dr. Roberts focused on the primary findings from the Center for Global Security Research’s (CGSR) November 2018 workshop, hosted in conjunction with the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

SMA hosted a panel discussion as a part of its Future of Global Competition & Conflict Speaker Series. The panelists included Prof. Anoush Ehteshami (Durham University), Dr. Cynthia Watson (National Defense University), Dr. Thomas Sherlock (United States Military Academy, West Point), and Col E. John Gregory (United States Military Academy, West Point). The moderator was Ms. Nicole (Peterson) Omundson (NSI, Inc.).

Mr. Fabey began by stating that Chinese decision makers are very strategic, long-term thinkers; however, they are now becoming impatient and are looking for an opportunity to increase their military and global economic status.

SMA hosted a speaker session presented by Lt Col Dave Lyle (Air Education and Training Command [AETC] / Air University) as a part of its SMA General Speaker Series. Lt Col Lyle began his presentation by using an elephant metaphor to illustrate how people often fail to understand complexity and cognitive biases.

SMA hosted a speaker session presented by Dr. Sean McFate (National Defense University) as a part of its SMA General Speaker Series. Dr. McFate first explained the purpose of his book, which is to address tough questions that US decision makers should be asking and to understand why the US doesn’t win more wars.

SMA hosted a speaker session presented by Col Joachim Isacsson (UK Ministry of Defence Development, Concepts and Doctrine Centre [DCDC]) as a part of its Future of Great Power Competition & Conflict Speaker Series.

SMA hosted a speaker session presented by Dr. Michael Beckley (Tufts University) as a part of its Future of Great Power Competition & Conflict Speaker Series. Dr. Beckley began his presentation by stating that the US’s economic lead over China is actually larger than most estimates display.

SMA hosted a speaker session presented by Professor David Des Roches (National Defense University) as a part of its SMA CENTCOM Speaker Series. Prof. Des Roches began his presentation by discussing the details of the $110B arms deal that US President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabian King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud negotiated during the Riyadh Summit.