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About the series

The Commanders Series, generously supported by Saab, is the Atlantic Council’s flagship speakers’ forum for senior military and defense leaders. The series provides a platform to discuss current strategic issues with an impressive audience drawn from across Washington’s policy community, including think tanks, media, industry, embassies, and the US government. In 2021, the Atlantic Council hosted then-Acting Secretary of the US Army Dr. John E. Whitley, Chief of Staff of the US Army General James C. McConville, Commander of US European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Tod D. Wolters, Chief of Staff of the US Air Force General Charles Q. Brown, Jr., and then-Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General John E. Hyten.

Upcoming & recent events

Online Event Fri, September 17, 2021 • 2:15 pm ET

Toward integrated deterrence: A conversation with vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen John E. Hyten, USAF

Vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen John E. Hyten, USAF discusses the way forward for US defense and deterrence as part of Forward Defense’s Commanders Series.
China Defense Industry Defense Policy Defense Technologies
Photo: U.S. Air Force
Online Event Thu, July 1, 2021 • 3:30 pm ET

Fight and flight in modern air warfare: A conversation with Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen Charles Q. Brown, Jr.

US Air Force Chief of Staff Gen Charles Q. Brown, Jr. discusses the Department’s priorities in preparing for twenty-first century warfare as a part of Forward Defense’s Commanders Series.
Cybersecurity Defense Industry Defense Policy Defense Technologies
Online Event Wed, June 9, 2021 • 2:15 pm ET

Competition and deterrence in Europe: A conversation with General Tod D. Wolters, USEUCOM Commander and SACEUR

Ahead of the NATO Summit, General Wolters, Commander of US European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, discusses NATO’s new approach to everyday competition and how the United States can prevail in twenty-first century warfare.
Crisis Management Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia NATO
Online Event Mon, May 10, 2021 • 1:00 pm ET

Advancing Army priorities for the future of warfare: A conversation with the Acting Secretary and the Chief of Staff of the Army

Acting Secretary of the Army HON John E. Whitley and Chief of Staff of the Army GEN James C. McConville discuss the US Army’s priorities and posture in light of emerging security threats and a potentially difficult budget as a part of Forward Defense’s Commanders Series events.
Defense Policy Defense Technologies Missile Defense National Security
Photo: US Army Flickr

Distinguished speakers we’ve hosted

Toward integrated deterrence: A conversation with Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen John E. Hyten, USAF

Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen John E. Hyten, USAF discusses the way forward for US defense and deterrence as part of Forward Defense’s Commanders Series.

Competition and deterrence in Europe: A conversation with USEUCOM Commander and SACEUR Gen Tod D. Wolters, USAF

Ahead of the NATO Summit, General Wolters, Commander of US European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, discusses NATO’s new approach to everyday competition and how the United States can prevail in twenty-first century warfare with Forward Defense Deputy Director Clementine G. Starling.

The future Army in great-power competition: A conversation with Army Chief of Staff James McConville

In a renewed era of great-power competition, Army Chief of Staff James C. McConville joins the Atlantic Council’s Commanders Series to discusses how the Army is preparing itself for the future of geostrategic competition and military conflict.

The future of the Army in great-power competition: A conversation with SECARMY Mark Esper

In this installment of the Commanders Series, Secretary of the Army Mark Esper addresses the modernization priorities of the US Army. He discusses how the Army sees its role in a new era of great-power competition, reviewing how great-power rivals pose a challenge to the Army’s current posture in Europe and Asia.

US military strategy in the era of great-power competition: A conversation with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Drawing on more than four decades of distinguished service in the US Marine Corps, General Joseph F. Dunford joins the Atlantic Council’s Commanders Series to discuss the US military priorities of today and into the 2020s. In this conversation moderated by CNN’s Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Starr, General Dunford focuses on challenges to US military superiority; US military approaches to combating long-term threats; and maintaining dominance and lethality in all domains (air, sea, land, space, and cyber).

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Past Commanders Series events

Online Event Fri, September 17, 2021 • 2:15 pm ET

Toward integrated deterrence: A conversation with vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen John E. Hyten, USAF
China Defense Industry Defense Policy Defense Technologies
Online Event Thu, July 1, 2021 • 3:30 pm ET

Fight and flight in modern air warfare: A conversation with Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen Charles Q. Brown, Jr.
Cybersecurity Defense Industry Defense Policy Defense Technologies
Online Event Mon, May 10, 2021 • 1:00 pm ET

Advancing Army priorities for the future of warfare: A conversation with the Acting Secretary and the Chief of Staff of the Army
Defense Policy Defense Technologies Missile Defense National Security
Public Event Mon, October 19, 2020 • 10:00 am ET

The future of US national security
China Coronavirus Crisis Management Defense Policy
Public Event Tue, July 21, 2020 • 1:30 pm ET

North Star: The first Department of the Air Force Arctic strategy
Defense Policy Energy & Environment Intelligence National Security
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Forward Defense, housed within the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, shapes the debate around the greatest military challenges facing the United States and its allies, and creates forward-looking assessments of the trends, technologies, and concepts that will define the future of warfare.

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