PRISM Speaker Series

PRISM Speaker Series

The PRISM Speaker Series supports NDU faculty in their efforts to adapt instruction and curriculum to the rapidly evolving national security environment, and enhance the educational experience of the NDU Class of 2020/21. 

The global order is undergoing tectonic shifts. With these shifts come extraordinary dangers, as well as opportunities. Great power competition, hybrid and gray zone conflict, weaponization of new technologies, terrorism and fragile states, climate change, and global pandemics: These are among the issues that the National Defense University’s flagship journal of national and international security, PRISM, tracks. This speaker series, initiated in May 2020, presents diverse perspectives on these vital issues for 21st century security from thought leaders in the policymaking, practitioner, and academic communities. The series weaves together three related lines of effort; 1) Geoeconomics, 2) Great Power Competition, and 3) Innovation and Emerging, Disruptive Technologies.

Recent Events

Federica Mogherini

PRISM Speaker Series | March 24, 2021

Rector Federica Mogherini Reprise

Federica Mogherini

The US Department of Defense (DoD) Strategic Multilayer Assessment (SMA) program hosted a special one-hour session on March 24, 2021, with Rector Federica Mogherini (College of Europe; Former High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy), as a part of its SMA INSS/PRISM Speaker Series.

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Federica Mogherini

PRISM Speaker Series | March 17, 2021

The Role of Europe in the New Great Power Competition

Federica Mogherini

The US Department of Defense (DoD) Strategic Multilayer Assessment (SMA) program hosted a speaker session on March 17, 2021, presented by Rector Federica Mogherini (College of Europe; Former High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy), as a part of its SMA INSS/PRISM Speaker Series.

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Michael Brown, Defense Innovation Unit

PRISM Speaker Series | Feb. 24, 2021

Innovating for National Security

Michael Brown

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Strategic Multilayer Assessment (SMA) program hosted a speaker session on February 24, 2021, presented by Mr. Michael Brown (Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)), as a part of its SMA NDU/PRISM Innovation Series. 

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Philip Zelikow and Robert D. Blackwill

PRISM Speaker Series | Feb. 18, 2021

The United States, China, and Taiwan: A Strategy to Prevent War

Robert D. Blackwill and Philip Zelikow

On February 18, 2021, this discussion led by James Schmeling, President and CEO, explores and explains why Taiwan is emerging as a potential flashpoint for a war that could include US intervention. Featuring AMB. Robert Blackwill & Professor Philip Zelikow, they propose a realistic strategic objective for Taiwan, and the associated policy prescriptions, to sustain the political balance that has kept the peace for the last fifty years.

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General David Petraeus (Ret.)

PRISM Speaker Series | Feb. 17, 2021

Geoeconomics and Great Power Competition

David Petraeus

The US Department of Defense (DoD) Strategic Multilayer Assessment (SMA) program hosted a speaker session on February 17, 2021, presented by General (Ret.) David Petraeus, as a part of its SMA INSS/PRISM Speaker Series.

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Robert Zoellick

PRISM Speaker Series | Jan. 12, 2021

Economics, Diplomacy, and Great Power Competition

Robert Zoellick

The US Department of Defense (DoD) Strategic Multilayer Assessment (SMA) program hosted a speaker session on January 12, 2021, presented by Hon. Robert Zoellick (Former World Bank President; US Trade Representative; and Deputy Secretary, Undersecretary, and Counselor to the US Department of State), as a part of its SMA INSS/PRISM Speaker Series.

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Joseph Votel

PRISM Speaker Series | Nov. 18, 2020

American Businesses and Great Power Competition

Joseph Votel

On November 18, 2020, the US Department of Defense (DoD) Strategic Multilayer Assessment (SMA) program hosted a speaker session as a part of its SMA INDOPACOM/AFRICOM Speaker Series. The speaker was GEN (Ret.) Joseph Votel (Former Commander, USSOCOM and USCENTCOM; President and CEO, Business Executives for National Security (BENS)).

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David Petraeus and Robert Zoellick

PRISM Speaker Series | Oct. 15, 2020

America and the World: A History of U.S. Diplomacy and Foreign Policy

Robert Zoellick and David Petraeus

The US Department of Defense (DoD) Strategic Multilayer Assessment (SMA) program hosted a conversation on October 15, 2020 as a part of its SMA INSS/PRISM Speaker Series, featuring Honorable Robert Zoellick and moderator General (Ret.) David Petraeus.

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US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew speaks at a press conference at the IMF/WB Spring Meetings in Washington, DC, on April 17, 2015.

PRISM Speaker Series | Sept. 23, 2020

Geoeconomics and the Emerging World Order: The Power of the U.S. Dollar

Jacob J. Lew

The US Department of Defense (DoD) Strategic Multilayer Assessment (SMA) program hosted a speaker session on September 23, 2020 as a part of its SMA INSS/PRISM Speaker Series, entitled “Geoeconomics and the Emerging World Order: The Power of the U.S. Dollar.” This brief was presented by the Honorable Jack Lew (Former United States Secretary of the Treasury, White House Chief of Staff, and Director of the Office of Management and Budget).

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Joseph E. Stiglitz

PRISM Speaker Series | Aug. 19, 2020

GeoEconomics and the Emerging World Order

Joseph E. Stiglitz

Held on August 19, 2020, this lecture and discussion featured Dr. Joseph E. Stiglitz, University Professor at Columbia University. Dr. Stiglitz is winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics (2001) and in 2011 was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. The session was chaired by PRISM Editor, Michael Miklaucic.

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William Overholt and Carolyn Bartholomew

PRISM Speaker Series | May 6, 2020

The Geo-Economic Dimension of Great Power Competition

Carolyn Bartholomew and William Overholt

This faculty seminar was held on Wednesday, May 6, 2020 and focused on the fundamentals of geo-economics and the drivers or dimensions of geo-economic competition. This seminar features two distinguished subject matter experts on China and geo-economics, and is part of a series that looks at modern great power competition and how to prepare national security leaders for the associated challenges. The discussion was led by Carolyn Bartholomew and William Overholt, and moderated by PRISM Editor Michael Miklaucic.

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