Project Category: 2024

Defense Writers Group

10 December 2024

Moderator: Thank you all for coming, and welcome to this special Defense Writers Group on the nexus of climate change and national security. We’re honored that we’ve partnered with The Rockefeller Foundation on these four discussions. In fact, this one specific theme was suggested by one of the senior Rockefeller officials because they do a lot of work about populations at risk, especially in Africa.

Our guest speaker today is -- we couldn’t get anyone better for the topic. Maureen Farrell is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs. Before that she was on the National Security Council Staff as the Director of African Affairs, and also was Deputy Director of the Africa Command’s Washington Liaison Office. Thank you for being here.

Ground rules, as always, this is on the record. You can record for accuracy of quotes, but there’s no rebroadcast of audio or video. We’ve asked DASD Farrell to offer some opening thoughts just because this topic is rather new and unusual for the Defense Writers Group. Then we’ll go around the table for questions, saving the last few minutes for DASD Farrell. We will end promptly at 2 o’clock respecting schedules. The floor is yours. Thank you.

DASD Farrell: Thank you so very much. I appreciate everyone’s interest in this topic. I’m delighted to be here to meet you all and to engage in person. There are far too many engagements that are virtual these days.

 Defense Writers Group 

 21 November 2024 

 Moderator: Good morning everybody, and welcome to this very special Defense Writers Group with Lieutenant General Philip Garrant. He’s Commander, Space Systems Command. 

As always, this is on the record. Please record for accuracy and quotes, but there’s no rebroadcast of audio or video. I’ll ask the first question. Several of you emailed in advance and we’ll get to those then go to the table. 

The General does have to start wrapping up at 8:45 to be out the door at 8:50, so we’re ten minutes shorter than usual. So we’ll stick to questions and follow-ups but let’s be respectful of our colleagues. 

Sir, thank you for joining us here today. 

Lt. Gen. Garrant: Absolutely, thank you. 

Moderator: To start us off my question, sir, is the incoming Commander in Chief, no secret, is a fan of space. He created Space Force. A lot of bipartisan groups including the bipartisan Congressional Commission on National Defense has called for increased defense spending, significant. So if the next Congress increases your budget, what would be your major areas of investment? 

 Defense Writers Group 

 8 November 2024 

 Moderator: Good morning, everyone, and welcome to this very special Defense Writers Group. It’s the first of four that we’re planning on “Climate Security is National Security.” Special thanks to our hosts for today, this inaugural event, and for all four -- which is The Rockefeller Foundation. 

The ground rules, as always, this is on the record. You’re welcome to record it for accuracy and quotes but there is no broadcast of audio or video. 

Our inaugural speaker in the series is the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Brendan Owens. He has a very long title 

ASD Owens: Chief Sustainability Officer, Chief Housing Officer, and the Energy, Installations and Environment job. 

Moderator: The first question I’ll ask, and then we’ll go around the table. Three of you asked questions in advance, but we’ll have time for everybody before the hour’s over. 

One thing I learned from the military is that when you have a giant problem, break it down into strategic, operational and tactical and solve each piece. 

So, if you could, Mr. Secretary, talk a bit first at the strategic level of the climate challenges to the Department of Defense, and then walk us through some of the specific operational and tactical things you’re doing to mitigate. 

Defense Writers Group

18 October 2024

Moderator: Good morning. Welcome everyone to the Defense Writers Group on an incredibly timely and important topic -- Lessons for the Future Force from the war in Ukraine. One hates to look at bloodshed and death as anything positive, but it really is a living laboratory. I know the military is watching very carefully, and we have some of the smartest minds among military analysts anywhere to help us understand that. 

As always, this is on the record. You can record for accuracy and quotes, but there’s no rebroadcast of audio or video. Because not many of you have read the book, I’ll ask our guest speakers to brief a little bit to it and then we’ll go around to questions for the hour. 

So our guests are Dr. John Nagl and Colonel Chase Metcalf. We have a bonus here, Stephen Trynosky is also a contributor. And also just a couple of honored guests, Matt Levinger from the Elliott School, Director of the National Security Studies Program; and Sean Aday, SMPA professor and good colleague. 

With that, I will turn it over to, I call him Colonel Nagl, you can call him Dr. Nagl or John. 

Dr. Nagl: I haven’t been a colonel for a long, long time. 

 Defense Writers Group 

 2 October 2024 

 Moderator: Good morning, everyone. I’m Thom Shanker, Director of the Project for Media and National Security. We have a very special guest today, Admiral Lisa Franchetti, Chief of Naval Operations. I know you know her distinguished military bio. What you might not know, she has an undergraduate degree in journalism from Northwestern, one of the finest J schools in the country. I know the Navy’s your home, so I’m not going to say welcome home, Admiral -- I’ll say welcome back. 

Admiral Franchetti: Thank you. 

Moderator: The ground rules are the same as always. This is on the record. You can record for accuracy of quotes, but there’s no rebroadcast of audio or video. I’ll ask the first question, then we’ll go to the table. More than a dozen people emailed in advance. We’ll get to as many as we possibly can in the time allowed, and then we’ll save the last few minutes for the Admiral’s closing comments. 

Admiral, thank you for joining us. 

Admiral Franchetti: Thank you. 

Moderator: My opening question. You recently released your Strategic Guidance to the Navy. Your Navigation Plan focuses heavily on the PRC and the year 2027. I’m sure it’s not a coincidence that’s also the year that Xi Jinping has said he wants his military to be capable of retaking Taiwan. 

So, can you talk about your concerns, analysis of Chinese defenses and offenses that are so worrisome to you, and how will you structure and restructure the Navy between now and 2027 to deter China? And I use deter especially because of the military axiom, it’s always better to deter war than fight one. 

Admiral Franchetti: Definitely. Thanks, Thom, and again, thank you for organizing and thanks everybody for being here. And thanks for the opportunity to talk a little bit about the Navigation Plan and the thinking that went into that. 

Defense Writers Group

17 September 2024

 Moderator: Good morning everyone, and welcome to a truly special edition of this Defense Writers Group. We have as our guests two people -- since I’m no longer a New York Times correspondent I can express opinions. I think we have with us today two of the most important public officials I’ve ever met in my entire career that are dedicated to service and keeping our nation safe. 

Jane Harman is Chair, and Eric Edelman is Vice Chair of the Congressional Commission on the National Defense Strategy. 

A small note, this is Eric’s fourth visit to the Defense Writers Group and he told me it’s his last, so we better enjoy it. 

Edelman: No, it’s not my last Defense Writers Group. It’s the last Defense Commission I’m going to do. I’ve done four of those too. I’m happy to come back here. 

Defense Writers Group

10 September 2024

Moderator: Good morning everyone, and welcome to this very special session of the Defense Writers Group. Our guest this
morning is the Governor of Okinawa Denny Tamaki. Those of you who were here a year ago, it was a really interesting discussion. I learned so very much not just about Okinawa issues but about you and your personal views of the world. Our ground rules, as always, this is on the record. Please record for accuracy of quotes, but there’s no rebroadcast of audio or video. I’ll ask the first question and then six of you asked in advance to be on the questioners list. If we get through those, we’ll go to others. And as always, we’ll save a few minutes at the end for the Governor’s closing comments.

So Governor, thank you for being with us today.

My first question goes to really one of the heartbreaking issues between your country, your people and ours, which is the
continuing violence by American servicemen against the residents of Okinawa. Just this summer two new cases of sexual
assault against Okinawa women became public. I’m just curious, sir, what are your negotiations like with the American military?
And now that you’re here in Washington, what is the official government saying to you about how this problem can be put to an end?

Governor Tamaki: [Through Interpreter] Thank you, I will be answering your questions.

Defense Writers Group

 30 August 2024 

 Moderator: Good morning everybody, and welcome to what’s going to be a great Defense Writers Group. Our special guest this morning is Vice Admiral Frank “Trey” Whitworth. He’s the Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. Admiral, in honor of your predecessors, as in those who navigate by the sky, I’m wearing my celestial tie. 

VADM Whitworth: I saw that. Impressive. 

Moderator: If you get lost, you can find your way home. 

The ground rules are as always, this is on the record. You can record for accuracy of quotes, but there’s no rebroadcast of audio or video. I’ll ask the first question. More than a dozen of you got in touch in advance to be on the list. We’ll get through as many as we possibly can. Because of the interest, let’s really stick to the rules -- a question and one follow-up. No more than that. 

So Admiral, thank you for joining us today. 

Defense Writers Group

23 August 2024

 Moderator: Good morning, everybody. A full house in the dog days of summer. Obviously great interest in our speaker. I’m extremely honored to be hosting this Defense Writers Group with Chrisopher P. Maier, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict. 

The ground rules, as always, this is on the record. You can record for accuracy but there’s no rebroadcast of audio or visual. I’ll ask the first question, go around the table. A dozen of you have already asked to be on the advanced list. If we get through these, we’ll do more. We have a hard stop at the hour. 

So thank you for joining us today, sir. 

A/S Maier: Thank you for having me. 

Project for Media and National Security
George Washington School of Media and Public Affairs

31 July 2024

Mr. Schauerte: I think you all are officially qualified to be members of the US Postal Service as well, in addition to the Army. [Laughter].

My name is Mark Schauerte. I’m the Director of Development, at the University of Chicago, Institute of Politics. We wanted to
say thank you very much for braving the rain. You’re very hardy. And we’re excited to have a conversation this evening
moderated by Thom Shanker with Colonel Butler. I’ll turn it over to Thom, to take it from here.

Moderator: Thanks so much. I’m the Director of the Project for Media and National Security at George Washington University.
It’s great to partner with the Institute of Politics from the University of Chicago.

This is on the record tonight. I’ll be producing a transcript if people want it

I could not be happier or prouder than to host Colonel David Butler. He is an absolutely consummate professional in military
public affairs with a remarkable career. He was the chief spokesman for the Special Operations community. He was chief
spokesman for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Milley during a really dramatic time in our nation’s history.
And right now he has the honor of working for General George, the Chief of Staff of the Army. So he’s returned to his own
service in service of the Army. Colonel Butler, thank you so much for being here, sir.

COL Butler: Thanks for coming.

Honestly, it wasn’t probably easy to get here. I appreciate you guys coming.