Research, ideas, and leadership for a more secure, peaceful world

Past Event
Conference

Imagining a New National Security Act for the 21st Century

RSVP Required Open to the Public

Imagine if you woke up tomorrow to news of:

A massive cyber-attack that irreparably damaged financial markets and shut down critical infrastructure, or A significant conventional defeat due to strategic surprise like happened at Pearl Harbor, or The release of a manufactured pathogen that marks the beginning of a new global pandemic.

Please join the Intelligence and Applied History Projects at the Belfer Center, Harvard Kennedy School, for a day of thoughtful discussion about the top challenges facing the existing intelligence and national security mechanisms in the United States, and possible mitigation strategies to ensure that the U.S. has the people, structure, systems, integration, legal authority, and partnerships needed to protect national interests in the years ahead. Panelists include intelligence historians Dr. Sara Castro, Dr. Michael Warner, and Dr. James Wirtz, and former intelligence practitioners Sue Gordon and Ellen McCarthy. Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper will provide a keynote address. At the conference, we will showcase the winners of our essay competition: A New National Security Act for the 21st Century.

This event will take place in hybrid format under Chatham House Rules. Registration is required. Harvard community members are welcome to attend in person. Please register for the event here: https://harvard.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_U_wuab28R0y1NnLQtIqylg.

Date: Time: - Location: Belfer Building - Starr Auditorium, Floor 2.5
President Truman signs the National Security Act (1947)

Conference Program

0930-1000   Continental Breakfast

1000-1005    Welcome remarks: Paul Kolbe, Director, Intelligence Project

1005-1025    Keynote: The Hon. Jim Clapper (joining us via Zoom), Senior Fellow, Intelligence Project

1025-1045    Setting the Scene: Dr. Paula Briscoe, Recanati-Kaplan Fellow, Intelligence Project

1045-1200    Panel – National Security and Intelligence Reform from 1947 to Present
This panel will discuss key changes in the last 75 years to intelligence and national security structures, requirements, authorities, and enduring strengths and challenges.  
Moderator: Dr. Michael Miner
Panelists: Dr. Michael Warner, U.S. Cyber Command (Zoom); Dr. James Wirtz, Naval Postgraduate School (in person); Dr. Sara Castro, U.S. Air Force Academy (in person)

1200-1300    Lunch Provided (In-Person Attendees)

1300-1400    Panel – Reimagining the 1947 National Security Act for the 21st Century
Winners will present their ideas and discuss the major challenges and key proposals.
Moderator: Dr. Graham Allison
Panelists: Essay Competition Winners:
First place: Russ Travers, former Acting Director of the National Counterterrorism Center and former White House Deputy Homeland Security Advisor
Second place: Sophie Faaborg-Anderson, MPP Candidate, Harvard Kennedy School / MITRE Corporation’s National Security Engineering Center
Third place: Marie Couture and Laurie LaPorte, National Security Experts

1400-1500    Panel – Priority Challenges for US Intelligence and National Security
This panel will explore ways to address current constraints and will consider legislative measures to improve intelligence capabilities, and national security.
Moderator: Ellen McCarthy, former Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (in person)
Panelists: The Hon. Sue Gordon, Intelligence Project Senior Fellow (via Zoom); the Hon. Jim Clapper, Intelligence Project Senior Fellow (via Zoom)

1500 Adjournment of Conference

1530-1630 Informal roundtable discussion for students

Up Next