National Security Fellows

Speakers:  Major General (Retired) Bill Rapp, Lecturer, Harvard Kennedy School and  Dr. Heidi Urben, Adjunct Associate Professor in the Security Studies Program at Georgetown University. 

The atmosphere around the national elections to be held on Tuesday, 3 November, have brought to the fore many important issues of how the US military interacts and is viewed by the public and the civilian leadership in government.  This seminar will cover many of those issues, shed some light on the tensions inherent in the American norms of civil-military relations, and provide a venue for open dialogue about these topics. 

The United States faces an increasingly complex global security environment, characterized by overt challenges to the free and open international order and the re-emergence of long-term, strategic competition between nations. To meet these challenges, the Air Force is evolving to project unmatched power through the air, space, and cyber domains.  Join four National Security Fellows as they discuss the diverse missions of the United States Air Force and answer your questions on current operating concepts. 

Ms Susan Davenport from the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), and Mr. Isaac Lowe from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), will provide a joint overview of space systems and operations, followed by Q&A. Susan has spent 30 years working in the IC and DoD in Advanced Systems research, Image & Signal Processing, Intelligence and Acquisition.  Isaac currently works for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), and has spent 25 years working in space intelligence and operations within the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community. Together they'll be discussing:

1. What is Space Reconnaissance and why do we need it?

2. Who are the players in the Nations' Space arena and how do they work together?

3. How has the space domain changed in the last couple of decades?

The Defense Project presents a seminar with Jim Baker, the Director of the Department of Defense's Office of Net Assessment, who will provide an overview of the office's legacy, mission and core functions, then briefly review the concept of a "net assessment." 

To demonstrate the concept in action, Jim Baker, the Director of the Department of Defense's Office of Net Assessment,  will walk through an imperfect example of how to apply the framework of a net assessment to Eurasian Revisionist Powers, including the trends, asymmetries, assumptions and actions that contribute to such an assessment

This event is closed to the public. Please RSVP below and bring your Harvard ID for check-in at the door.

The Intelligence Project and the Defense Project at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs will co-host a lunch seminar with Vice Admiral Robert D. Sharp, Director of the National Geospacial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), on Wednesday, March 4th from 11:45am-1:00pm in Bell Hall. 

Intelligence Project Director Paul Kolbe will moderate.

Please RSVP using the link below. Harvard ID's will be checked at the door. 

The Defense Project and Intelligence Project will co-host a lunch with LTG Karen Gibson, Deputy Director of National Intelligence for National Security Partnerships, from 11:45a,-1:00pm in Bell Hall. 

Please RSVP below. Admission open to Harvard staff, students, fellows, faculty, alumni, and affiliates. 

Join the Defense Project for presentations and discussion on the case for a Space Force, climate change and its effect on national security, the future of intelligence, and more. Refreshments will be served.

The Intelligence Project will host a panel discussion with Clarence Jones Jr., Kelly Garfallo, Adam Jones, John Wigle, Liz Leyne, and Jeff Fields. 

Lunch will be provided on a first come, first served basis. Please RSVP below.

Please join the Commandant of the Marine Corps for a discussion on the changing character of war and impacts to war-fighting that are driving the Marine Corps' future force design.

This will take place on Friday, October 11 from 3:00pm-4:00pm in the Starr Auditorium.  

The Intelligence and Defense Projects at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs will host a breakfast seminar with LTG Robert P. Ashley, Jr., Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, on Friday April 26th from 08:45-10:00am in the Belfer Center Library. 

Breakfast will be provided on a first come, first served basis. RSVP required.