Past Event
In-Person
Seminar

China's Strategic Ambitions & Global Security Implications

RSVP Required Harvard Faculty, Fellows, Staff, and Students

Don't miss this opportunity to gain firsthand insights from a leading authority in intelligence and national defense. Join the Intelligence Project on April 17th for an exclusive session with Rear Admiral Mike Studeman (Ret.), as he offers an unfiltered analysis of China's strategic ambitions and their implications for global security. Admiral Studeman had a storied career in the US Navy, culminating with his 2022 assignment as the Commander of Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI). He is a distinguished graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School, an honors graduate in Mandarin Chinese from the Defense Language Institute, and a distinguished graduate of the National War College. This seminar will be moderated by the Intelligence Project and held under Chatham House rules. The seminar will be in person only, and will be open to the first 60 registrants with a Harvard ID.

Photo of China and U.S. flags with military items

Rear Adm. Michael Studeman is the son of a career naval officer and a 1988 graduate of the College of William and Mary.  He is a distinguished graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School, an honors graduate in Mandarin Chinese from the Defense Language Institute, and a distinguished graduate of the National War College.

At sea, Studeman served as air intelligence officer for Attack Squadron -35 (VA-35) Black Panthers onboard USS Saratoga (CV-60) during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.  He was also assistant staff intelligence office for U.S. 7th Fleet onboard USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) and assistant chief of staff for Intelligence (N2) with Carrier Strike Group 8 onboard USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom deployments.

Ashore, Studeman led analytic divisions at the Fleet Ocean Surveillance Facility, Rota, Spain, in support of Balkan operations.  He was also the first Director of PACOM’S China Red Team at the Joint Intelligence Operations Center, Hawaii; the first Senior Intelligence Officer for China at the Office of Naval Intelligence; and first Director, Commander’s Initiative Group at U.S. Fleet Forces Command.

Washington tours include presidential appointment as a White House fellow; special assistant to the Chief of Intelligence of the Department of Homeland Security; strategic issues lead for the Navy’s Quadrennial Defense Review Team; director of Navy Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance concepts; special assistant to the Vice Chief of Naval Operations; director of Navy Unmanned Airborne Systems; special assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations and director, Strategic Actions Group.

Studeman commanded the Joint Intelligence Operations Center, U.S. Cyber Command, Fort Meade, Maryland and Hopper Information Services Center, Suitland, Maryland.  He was also director of Intelligence (J2), at U.S. Southern Command, Miami, Florida, and director of Intelligence (J2) at U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Studeman assumed command of the Office of Naval Intelligence and Director National Maritime Intelligence-Integration Office in Aug 2022.

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