Speaker

Professor Carolyn Halladay

Department of National Security Affairs
Naval Postgraduate School

Topic

The Changing World of German Politics

Overview

When Angela Merkel announced in 2018 that she would not seek reelection as German chancellor in 2021, people spoke, with only a little hyperbole, about the end of an era. Observers of Germany certainly expected changes in Berlin, but which ones? The answer remains unclear, however portentous it may ultimately be. It took two months for a governing coalition to form, with the result a somewhat unlikely three-way “stop light” agreement among disparate parties. While the new government seeks to clarify its domestic priorities, unprecedented international events, notably the Russian invasion of Ukraine, confront the German leadership. It is a very different Germany–and world—for Chancellor Olaf Scholtz. In her presentation, Professor Carolyn Halladay will explore the promise and potential pitfalls of the current situation.

Carolyn Halladay is a Senior Lecturer in the Center for Civil- Military Relations and in the National Security Affairs Department at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS). She also lectures at the NPS Center for Homeland Defense and Security. An historian and a lawyer, Dr. Halladay’s academic focus is on contemporary Central Europe.

Before joining the NPS faculty, Dr. Halladay was a lecturer in history at Pennsylvania State University at Erie, The Behrend College. She has also taught history and international relations at the graduate and undergraduate levels at The George Washington University in Washington, DC.

Agenda

• Thursday, May 26, 2022
• 11:30 am: Registration
• 12:00 am: Luncheon
• 12:45 pm: Program

Luncheon Menu

• Organic Greens with Pine Nuts, Golden Raisins, and Vinaigrette
• Roasted Beef Tenderloin with Bearnaise Sauce
• Seasonal Vegetables
• Fresh Bread and Butter
• Carrot Cake
• Coffee
• Vegetarian Option: Crispy Polenta Napoleon with Wild Mushrooms, Boursin Cheese, Spinach, and Roasted Peppers

Luncheon Cost

• $43 for members
• $48 for guests

Registration

Please note that May’s luncheon is at a new location: the clubhouse at Bayonet Black Horse (BBH) Golf Course at 1 McClure Way on what used to be Fort Ord. The easiest way to get there is to exit Highway 1 at Lightfighter Drive. Continue east until you reach the third stoplight, where you will turn right onto Gen. Jim Moore Blvd. After about two miles, you will see the entrance to the golf course on your right. Turn right onto McClure Way and follow it to the parking lot.

As you face the buildings, you’ll see a sidewalk that begins at an archway between some planters. Follow the sidewalk toward the bay to the end of the building, where you will enter the building on your left into The Grill. Once inside, continue straight ahead until you reach the end of the building, then turn left into the meeting room. We hope to see you there! Luncheon prices differ among the various venues we now use. At BBH, the cost for members is $43 and for guests is $48.

Reservations are due by May 24 for this May 26 event.

Refunds are not available after the due date listed above.

Registration for the luncheon is now closed.

Location

Bayonet and Black Horse
1 McClure Way
Seaside, California 93955
(831) 899-7271

Speaker

The Honorable Steven Pifer

US Ambassador to Ukraine, 1998 – 2000;
Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies,
Stanford University

Topic

Russia and Its War Against Ukraine

Overview

Russia’s relations with the West and with its neighbor Ukraine have grown increasingly difficult over the past decade. What does the Kremlin want in general, and what drove it to launch a major invasion of Ukraine in February 2022? Our speaker Steven Pifer will explore these questions and what the future may hold for Russia and Ukraine.

Steven Pifer is a William J. Perry Fellow at the at Stanford University’s Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies. He is also an affiliate of Stanford’s Europe Center and a nonresident senior fellow with the Brookings Institution.

A career Foreign Service officer, Ambassador Pifer’s more than 25 years with the US Department of State included assignments as US Ambassador to Ukraine (1998-2000), Deputy Assistant Secretary of State responsible for Russia and Ukraine (2001-2004), and Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia on the National Security Council (1996-1997). He also served at the US embassies in Warsaw, Moscow, and London, as well as in Geneva with the US delegation to the negotiation on intermediate range nuclear forces.

Ambassador Pifer is the author of The Eagle and the Trident: U.S.-Ukraine Relations in Turbulent Times (Brookings Institution Press, 2017). He is a graduate of Stanford University with a BA in economics.

Agenda

• Friday, April 29, 2022
• 11:30 am: Registration
• 12:00 am: Luncheon
• 12:45 pm: Program

Luncheon Menu

• Salad of Salinas Valley Greens with Berries, Feta, and Walnuts
• Grilled Lemon, Garlic, and Rosemary Salmon on Orzo Pilaf
• Green Beans
• Fresh Bread and Butter
• Double Chocolate Mousse Cake
• Coffee
• Vegetarian Option: Colorful Bell Peppers Stuffed with Grains and Vegetables and Served on a Pool of Corn Pudding

Luncheon Cost

• $36 for members
• $42 for guests

Registration

Please note that this program will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn, Monterey.  Room capacity is limited. Reservations will be accepted in the order they are received until the program is full. Due to limited capacity, we are unable to accommodate auditors at this event.

Reservations are due by April 25 for this April 29 event.

Refunds are not available after the due date listed above.

This event is filled to capacity.
Registration is no longer available.

Location

Hilton Garden Inn, Monterey
1000 Aguajito Road
Monterey, CA 93923

Property and Parking Map

Click here for larger view.

Speaker

Professor Christopher Twomey

Department of National Security Affairs
Naval Postgraduate School

Topic

How the China-Taiwan Conflict Could Intensify US-China Competition

Overview

Complex historic legacies undergird the triangular relationship between Taiwan, China, and the United States. This history now faces the realities of contemporary Asian affairs: a powerful China, a vibrant democracy in Taiwan, and shifting US policies. Professor Christopher Twomey examines the trilateral relationship and why some analysts believe the Taiwan Strait is becoming one of the most dangerous flashpoints in the world.

Dr. Christopher Twomey joined the faculty of the Naval Postgraduate School in 2004, where he is an Associate Professor in the Department of National Security Affairs. Today, he supports the Office of the Secretary of Defense (Policy) and the State Department on a range of diplomatic engagements across Asia. He has been the lead organizer of the US China Strategic Dialogue, a diplomatic meeting on strategic nuclear issues, since its inception in 2005. He has previously taught or conducted research at Harvard University, Boston College, RAND, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, UC San Diego, and the University of California’s Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation.

Dr. Twomey is the author of The Military Lens: Doctrinal Differences and Deterrence Failure in Sino-American Relations (Cornell University Press, 2010). He earned his PhD in Political Science from MIT.

Agenda

• Monday, March 28, 2022
• 11:30 am: Registration
• 11:50 am: Luncheon
• 12:50 pm: Program

Luncheon Menu

• Spinach Salad Topped with Berries and Balsamic Vinagrette
• Honey Dijon Garlic Chicken Breast on Almond Couscous
• Green Beans
• Fresh Bread and Butter
• Carrot Cake
• Coffee
• Vegetarian Option: Bell Peppers Stuffed with Almond Couscous, Raisins, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, and Olives

Luncheon Cost

• $36 for members
• $42 for guests

Registration

Please note that this program will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn, Monterey.  Room capacity is limited. Reservations will be accepted in the order they are received until the program is full. Due to limited capacity, we are unable to accommodate auditors at this event.

Reservations are due by March 22 for this March 28 event.

Refunds are not available after the due date listed above.

Registration for the luncheon is now closed.

Location

Hilton Garden Inn, Monterey
1000 Aguajito Road
Monterey, CA 93923

Property and Parking Map

Click here for larger view.

Speaker

Prof. Thomas H. Johnson

Research professor in the National Security Affairs department and Director of the Program for Culture & Conflict Studies at the Naval Postgraduate School

Topic

A Postmortem on US Involvement in Afghanistan

Overview

After the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979 to prop up the communist government in Kabul, the United States provided support to Afghan insurgents in their fight against the Soviets. In 2001, following the attacks of September 11, the United States and NATO invaded Afghanistan to evict the Taliban regime, which had given al-Qaeda safe haven in which to plan and train for 9/11. The war that was triggered by that invasion lasted for two decades, costing over $1 trillion and the lives of more than 3,500 US and allied soldiers. The spectacle of the hasty withdrawal of US troops this past summer, and the Taliban’s rapid return to power, have raised many questions about what went wrong with US policies toward Afghanistan.

In his talk, Professor Johnson will focus on a variety of cultural, political, governmental, and ethnic reasons to address why the United States was not successful in Afghanistan. He will discuss the lack of a coherent strategy and the poor choice of tactics that were used to fight this type of insurgency.

Thomas H. Johnson is a research professor in the National Security Affairs department at NPS, and the Director of the Program for Culture & Conflict Studies. For three decades, he has conducted research and written about Afghanistan and South Asia. He is the author of the best-selling book, Taliban Narratives: The Use and Power of Stories in the Afghanistan Conflict (Oxford University Press, 2018), and has recently updated and expanded Ludwig Adamec’s seminal book The Historical Dictionary of Afghanistan. He has published numerous scholarly articles, and has contributed to many news outlets, from National Public Radio to the Wall Street Journal. Professor Johnson holds an MA from USC and was awarded the Charles E. Merriam Award for Outstanding Public Policy Research from the University of Illinois.

Agenda

• Friday, February 25, 2022
• 11:00 am: Registration
• 11:50 am: Luncheon
• 12:50 pm: Program

Luncheon Menu

• Asian Salad with Oranges, Almonds, and Sesame Dressing
• Teriyaki Glazed Salmon with Mango Cucumber Salsa
• Coconut Rice
• Seasonal Vegetables
• Fresh Bread and Butter
• Sweet Mango Cheesecake
• Coffee and Decaf
• Vegetarian Option: Grilled Sweet Potato “Steaks” with Mango Cucumber Salsa

Luncheon Cost

• $36 for members
• $42 for guests

Registration

Please note that this program will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn, Monterey.  Room capacity is limited. Reservations will be accepted in the order they are received until the program is full. Due to limited capacity, we are unable to accommodate auditors at this event.

Reservations are due by February 21 for this February 25 event.

Registration for the luncheon is now closed.

Refunds are not available after the due date listed above.

Location

Hilton Garden Inn, Monterey
1000 Aguajito Road
Monterey, CA 93923

Property and Parking Map

Click here for larger view.