CNAS Live

On November 10, CNAS hosted a panel on recent advances in frontier artificial intelligence (AI) models and their potential to transform cyber offense and defense alike. Featuring the new report, Tipping the Scales: Emerging AI Capabilities and the Cyber Offense-Defense Balance, CNAS Technology and National Security Program expert Caleb Withers examines how capable today’s AI systems are at cyber-relevant tasks, which emerging capabilities matter most, and what defenders, policymakers, and industry should do to prepare. The discussion drew on those insights to cover a range of topics from recent advances in frontier AI intelligence models to the attacker-defender imbalance in cybersecurity operations, and more. The panel featured: Moderator Derek B. Johnson, journalist, CyberScoop Caleb Withers, Fellow, Center for a New American Security Andrew Lohn, Senior Fellow, Georgetown’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology Chris Rohlf, Security Engineer, Meta To learn more about upcoming events at CNAS, head to cnas.org/events.

On October 23, CNAS hosted a panel on the U.S. defense budget and the Department of Defense’s alignment of resources to strategy. Featuring our new report, Stuck in the Cul de Sac: How U.S. Defense Spending Prioritizes Innovation over Deterrence, CNAS Defense Program experts Dr. Carlton Haelig and Philip Sheers examine the gaps between the Department of Defense’s strategic priorities and its resource allocation and identify a wide range of challenges and opportunities the Pentagon faces in transitioning its key modernization initiatives to the field. This discussion drew on those insights to cover a range of topics from creating and maintaining a next-generation force, the impacts of a government shutdown on defense preparedness, and more. The panel featured: Moderator Philip Sheers, Research Associate, Defense Program Center for a New American Security The Honorable Susanna V. Blume, Distinguished Senior Fellow, Defense Program, Center for a New American Security Todd Harrison, Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute Dr. Carlton Haelig, Fellow, Defense Program, Center for a New American Security To learn more about upcoming events at CNAS, head to cnas.org/events.

On Wednesday, October 15, CNAS hosted a live, virtual event​ on Countering China's Digital Silk Road featuring former Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Digital Silk Road (DSR), China’s flagship initiative to strengthen its global ties and influence through technology. A decade after its launch, the DSR has become more vital to Beijing than ever as technology has moved to the center of its global ambitions. Since the DSR's inception, Beijing has signed bilateral technology agreements with over 80 countries, and Chinese tech exports have increased nearly 10-fold in the past three years alone. This CNAS event featured a fireside chat between former Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and CNAS Senior Fellow Vivek Chilukuri, followed by an expert panel that examined the DSR's evolution and effectiveness to date, U.S. and allied efforts to counter it, and key domains of U.S.-China tech competition in emerging markets. The panel featured: Moderator James Palmer, Deputy Editor at Foreign Policy and author of FP's weekly China Brief newsletter Jonathan Hillman, Senior Fellow for Geoeconomics, Council on Foreign Relations and author of The Digital Silk Road: China’s Quest to Wire the World Ruth Berry, Senior Director and Head of Policy, NVIDIA Government Affairs Ruby Scanlon, Research Associate, Technology and National Security Program, Center for a New American Security To learn more about upcoming events at CNAS, head to cnas.org/events.

Judge Advocates General (JAGs) serve a critical role in the U.S. military by providing expert, apolitical legal advice to commanders and defense officials. On Wednesday, October 8, CNAS held the Judge Advocates General: On the Frontline of National Security and the Rule of Law event. The event featured opening remarks from Admiral John Richardson, USN (Ret.), member of the CNAS Board of Directors and former chief of naval operations, and a panel discussion with Judge James E. Baker, former chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces; Rear Admiral James E. McPherson, JAGC, USN (Ret.), former undersecretary of the Army and former judge advocate general of the Navy. Hosted by Carrie Cordero, General Counsel and Senior Fellow at CNAS, the conversation covered the critical role of Judge Advocates General on the frontline of national security and rule of law, the need for factual and legal assessments in military operations, how JAGs can navigate operational pressure when providing legal advice to their commanders, and more. Over the past two years, CNAS has conducted research work that focuses on federalism and national security, including work that addresses disputes that can arise between presidents and governors over deployment of the National Guard. This work includes a commentary series published in May that provides recommendations at the federal and state levels for ensuring that domestic deployment of the military is consistent with law and the protection of civil liberties. To learn more about upcoming events at CNAS, head to cnas.org/events.

On Tuesday, September 16, CNAS held the first National Security Exchange fireside chat with Adam Boehler, Special Envoy for Hostage Response, hosted by Richard Fontaine, CEO of CNAS. The conversation covered the latest in the hostage situation in Gaza, how the Special Envoy coordinates with the rest of the U.S. government, common misconceptions around hostage negotiation, and more. To learn more about upcoming events at CNAS, head to cnas.org/events.

Nationwide, there has been a noticeable uptick in swatting cases, negatively impacting the safety and security of high-profile public servants and law enforcement agencies. In this episode of our Safe@Home speaker series, CNAS hosted a virtual event with Kenneth Corey, former NYPD Chief of Department, and Josh Campbell, CNAS Adjunct Senior Fellow and CNN Correspondent, for a conversation on the increase of these incidents targeting public officials, challenges to law enforcement agencies in terms of resources, capacity, and risk, and proposed legislative remedies at the state and federal levels. The CNAS Safe@Home speaker series focuses on challenges to homeland security such as international and domestic terrorism, political violence against government officials, mass shootings and gun violence, pandemic preparedness and response, climate related emergency management, cybersecurity and response, and related issues. Under the Securing U.S. Democracy Initiative, this series aims to inform policymakers to ensure that domestic security and public safety are adequately represented in national security conversations and problem-solving efforts.

Sanctioning China represents a challenge more complex than any other in the modern era of sanctions. Yet, if tensions with China escalate or conflict appears imminent, U.S. policymakers would reach for the sanctions tool as part of their overall response. Would sanctions work? Could the United States impose harsh sanctions without devastating the U.S. and global economies? Would any allies join the United States in a sanctioning effort? CNAS hosted a virtual discussion on Friday, December 15 to discuss a new report called No Winners in This Game: Assessing the U.S. Playbook for Sanctioning China, that explores these questions and challenges. Representative Mike Gallagher and Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi who lead the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party provided opening remarks, and were followed by an expert panel. You can learn more about upcoming events by heading to cnas.org/events

International terrorism and domestic violent extremism are once again at the forefront of U.S. national security concerns. As a result of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, antisemitism has been increasing at an exponential rate, both in the U.S. and around the world. On Friday, December 1, CNAS hosted a virtual event with Michael Masters, National Director and CEO of the Secure Community Network, for a conversation on antisemitism in the U.S., the work of the Secure Community Network, and the way forward to combat antisemitism and the accompanying outbreak in violence and aggression. Robert M. Gates Senior Fellow Carrie Cordero hosted the discussion. The CNAS Safe@Home speaker series, relaunching in December 2023, focuses on challenges to homeland security such as international and domestic terrorism, political violence against government officials, mass shootings and gun violence, pandemic preparedness and response, climate related emergency management, cybersecurity and response, and related issues. Under the CNAS Securing U.S. Democracy Initiative, this series aims to inform policymakers, the media, and the public to ensure that domestic security and public safety are adequately represented in national security conversations and problem-solving efforts.

The United States marked the 50th Anniversary of the All-Volunteer Force on July 1, 2023. To reflect on the challenges and opportunities the services face in the next 50 years, Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks joined Katherine Kuzminski, Deputy Director of Studies and Director of the Military, Veterans and Society Program at CNAS for a virtual conversation. They discussed military professionalism, challenges to recruitment, service member retention, and policy options for a resilient future force.

The U.S. Space Force is the first new branch of the armed services since 1947, and recently reframed its guiding mission to Secure our Nation’s interests in, from, and to space. General B. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations recently sat down with Dr. Stacie Pettyjohn, Senior Fellow and Director of the CNAS Defense Program, to discuss the service's early successes and remaining challenges. The conversation covered topics such as Space Force's innovative personnel solutions, ambitious acquisition targets, and efforts to improve the resiliency of America's space assets. To learn more out about upcoming events at CNAS, head to cnas.org/events

On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an unprecedentedly sophisticated attack on Israel. Using thousands of rockets as cover, Hamas ground forces over-ran Israeli security forces, entered Israel, and rolled through Israeli communities, committing unspeakable atrocities to civilians and taking hostages back to Gaza. Reeling from the loss of life, Israel once again finds itself at war and posturing for an operation, the scope and scale of which is beyond any it has launched in recent decades. On October 12, 2023 CNAS hosted a virtual event featuring a discussion with Danny Citrinowicz, Research Fellow of the Institute for National Security Studies, Jonathan Lord, Senior Fellow and Director of the Middle East Security Program at CNAS, and Carrie Cordero, Robert M. Gates Senior Fellow at CNAS, hosted by Richard Fontaine, Chief Executive Officer of CNAS. Check out all past and upcoming events at cnas.org/events

Pillar 2 of the trilateral agreement AUKUS is focused on cooperative actions between the three nations to develop advanced defense capabilities, which are critical to the balance of power in future strategic competition with China. AUKUS Pillar 2's potential for establishing and maintaining advantages in critical technology areas can only be fulfilled if the alliance can demonstrate progress and overcome barriers to cooperation. As strategic competition continues to intensify, what can we expect from AUKUS Pillar 2 cooperation and emerging technologies? And how is Australia developing a technological edge the Indo-Pacific? On September 20th, the Center for a New American Security hosted Professor Tanya Monro, Australia's Chief Defence Scientist, in conversation with Becca Wasser to discuss the latest developments and challenges under AUKUS Pillar 2. This conversation is part of the CNAS Mission Brief speaker series, which features deep-diving discussions with the military and civilian leaders driving future U.S. and allied defense strategy. You can watch past Mission Briefs, and find out about upcoming ones, at cnas.org/events This podcast is a production of the Center for a New American Security, this episode was produced and edited by Anna Pederson, with assistance from Charles Horn.

The Defense Industrial Base, or DIB, is a complex network that provides the U.S. department of defense with materials, products, and services to aid warfighting capabilities and business operations. Entities within the DIB can help produce anything from an aircraft to IT support, and relies on logistics planning, a healthy supply chain, and allocated funding to meet its goals. The war in Ukraine has raised questions about weaknesses in industrial capacity and readiness as demand rapidly increases. Dr. William LaPlante, the under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment overseas matters related to the DIB. He joined CNAS to discuss challenges in procurement with Dr. Stacie Pettyjohn. You can find out about all past and upcoming CNAS conversations by going to cnas.org/events.

Last week, the White House released an executive order detailing a ban on U.S. private-equity and venture-capital investments in some Chinese technology companies that have potential military applications. To break down the executive order and discuss what’s in, what’s out, and what it all means for investors and companies, CNAS hosted a special event with the Atlantic Council’s Geoeconomics Center. The conversation was moderated by Emily Kilcrease, senior fellow and director of the Energy, Economics, and Security Program at CNAS. She was joined by Sarah Bauerle Danzman, Senior Fellow, at the Atlantic Council, Peter Harrell, Nonresident Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and Eric Sayers, Managing Director at Beacon Global Industries. To learn more, read the latest commentary from CNAS Responds. CNAS Live is a production of the Center for a New American Security, bringing the center’s public events to a podcast audience. The show is produced by Anna Pederson and Charles Horn, with design help with Melody Cook and Rinn Rothback.

On March 17, 2021, the CNAS Military, Veterans, and Society Program held its third annual panel with women veteran authors. The event featured four women veteran authors from a variety of genres and discussed their experiences, opinions, and perspectives. The panel discussion with authors Pamela Brodman, Diane Carlson Evans, Kelly Kennedy, and Maggs Vibo was moderated by Adjunct Senior Fellow Jeannette Gaudry Haynie and hosted by Research Assistant Nathalie Grogan.

On March 16, 2021, the CNAS Technology and National Security Program hosted a virtual event on “Crafting a U.S. National Technology Strategy.” Speakers for this event included Michèle Flournoy, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of WestExec Advisors; Richard Fontaine, CEO of the Center for a New American Security; and Martijn Rasser, Senior Fellow of the Technology and National Security Program at the Center for a New American Security. Panelists included Secretary James "Hondo" Geurts, Performing the Duties of Under Secretary of the Navy, Director Sue Gordon, Senior Advisor at Pallas Advisors and Former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, and Loren DeJonge Schulman, Vice President of Research and Evaluation at the Partnership for Public Service and Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security. The panel was moderated by Megan Lamberth, Research Associate for the Technology and National Security Program at the Center for a New American Security.

On March 11, 2021, the CNAS Technology and National Security Program hosted a virtual book discussion with author Wesley Morgan about his new book, The Hardest Place: The American Military Adrift in Afghanistan's Pech Valley. Paul Scharre, Senior Fellow and Director of the CNAS Technology and National Security Program, sat down with Morgan to discuss the work and its central themes.

On March 5, 2021, the CNAS Technology and National Security Program hosted a virtual discussion on AI and the role of confidence-building measures. This event is a part of the CNAS Artificial Intelligence and Global Security Initiative, which explores how the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution could lead to changes in global power, the character of conflict, and crisis stability. Speakers for this event included Michael C. Horowitz, Richard Perry Professor and Director of the Perry World House at the University of Pennsylvania, Helen Toner, Director of Strategy at the Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET), and Kerstin Vignard, Head of the UNIDIR Support Team to the UN Cyber Negotiations (OEWG and GGE). This event was moderated by Paul Scharre, Senior Fellow and Director of the Technology and National Security Program at CNAS.

On January 14, 2021, the CNAS Technology and National Security Program hosted a virtual panel to discuss the challenges, findings. and recommendations of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission white paper, "Building a Trusted ICT Supply Chain." Speakers for this event included Congressman Mike Gallagher, Co-Chairman of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission; Dr. Sarah Sewall, Executive Vice President for Policy at In-Q-Tel; Dr. Sheena Chestnut Greitens, Associate Professor at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin; and RADM Mark Montgomery, USN (Ret.), Executive Director of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission. Martijn Rasser, Senior Fellow at CNAS, moderated this event.

On February 9, 2021, the Military, Veterans, and Society Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) held a two-part event to launch the report Massachusetts Veteran Needs Assessment: During the Pandemic and Beyond. The event was held as a CNAS webinar, and featured a presentation by Nathalie Grogan, keynote remarks by Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) and Massachusetts Secretary of Veterans Services Cheryl Poppe, and a discussion hosted by Emma Moore and Rosye Cloud, featuring panelists Michael Allard, Michael Dwyer, Meg Harrell, Pamela Johnson, and Kristy Kaufmann.

On December 1, 2020, the Military, Veterans, and Society Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) and the Athena Leadership Project held a roundtable to discuss caregiving in the military. Caregiving can place unique burdens on service members given the demands of a military career, burdens that disproportionately affect women. Athena Leadership Project directors Jeannette Gaudry Haynie, PhD and Kyleanne Hunter, PhD led a powerful discussion on the lived experiences of panelists MSgt Elizabeth Delellis, USMC (Ret); MSgt Tonya James, USMC (Ret); LCDR Alison Maruca, USNR; and Maj Frances Mercado, USAF.

On October 21, 2020, the CNAS Technology and National Security Program hosted a virtual discussion for the new report, "Common Code: An Alliance Framework for Democratic Technology Policy.” Speakers for this event included Marietje Schaake, International Policy Director of the Cyber Policy Center at Stanford University, Richard Fontaine, CEO of the Center for a New American Security, and Akira Amari, Chairperson of the Research Commission on the Tax System for the Liberal Democratic Party in Japan. Panelists included Rebecca Arcesati from the Mercator Institute for China Studies, Shin Oya from the Asia Pacific Initiative, Martijn Rasser, Senior Fellow for the Technology and National Security Program at the Center for a New American Security, and Ainikki Riikonen, Research Assistant for the Technology and National Security Program at the Center for a New American Security. This event was moderated by Kylie Atwood, National Security Correspondent at CNN.

On October 15, 2020, the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) Military, Veterans, and Society Program hosted a virtual panel discussion on how veteran-serving nonprofits are pivoting in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. MVS Program Director Kayla Williams and Rajeev Ramchand of the RAND Corporation moderated a conversation with panelists Tracy Farrell of the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), Renee Foster of The Mission Continues, Brian Jenkins of the Armed Services Arts Partnership (ASAP), and Jennifer Mackinday, an Elizabeth Dole Foundation Fellow Alumni.

For 20 years, U.S. presidents have tried to get out of the Middle East only to be pulled back in. On September 22, 2020, the CNAS Defense and Middle East Security Programs convened a virtual panel discussion on developing a long-term sustainable U.S. military approach to the Middle East. Panelists at this event included CNAS CEO Richard Fontaine, Ilan Goldenberg, and Becca Wasser. This event also featured a special presentation of the CNAS 1LT Andrew J. Bacevich Jr., USA Award to Kaleigh Thomas, a Research Associate with the CNAS Middle East Security Program.

On September 23, 2020, the Military, Veterans, and Society Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) launched a multi-part discussion series on race in the military. The first discussion session focused on the lived experiences of people of color in the U.S. military; future sessions will cover topics including effective leadership in an increasingly diverse force and the importance of understanding intersectional experiences. Discussions will be moderated by Bishop Garrison and CNAS Adjunct Senior Fellow Dr. Jason Dempsey. Rep. Anthony Brown (D-MD) provided keynote remarks at the opening of the inaugural session, and panelists included: Terrence Hayes, an Army veteran and current National Director, Communications & Public Affairs at Veterans of Foreign Wars; Melissa Bryant, a military and veteran advocate, former U.S. Army Captain and Department of Defense senior civil servant; James Anderson, USAF Captain and national security professional; and Dr. Kyleanne Hunter, Co-director of the Athena Leadership Project and Assistant Professor of Military and Strategic Studies at the United States Air Force Academy.

On September 17, 2020, the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), in partnership with the Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law (CERL) and the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC), both of the University of Pennsylvania, presented a virtual symposium, "Protecting Democracy: Foreign Interference, Voter Confidence, and Defensive Strategies in the 2020 Elections and Beyond." Christopher C. Krebs, Director of the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), joined experts Carrie Cordero and Claire Finkelstein for a conversation about the agency's efforts to #Protect2020.

On September 10, 2020, the Military, Veterans, and Society Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) hosted Iraq War veteran Teresa Fazio in discussion about her forthcoming book "Fidelis: A Memoir." The event was held as a CNAS webinar in conjunction with Bronx River Books. Acclaimed author Matt Gallagher interviewed Fazio about her coming of age story of joining the Marine Corps, deploying to Iraq, and coping with homecoming through writing. Gallagher is author of "Empire City," "Youngblood," and "Kaboom" and teaches Words After War at NYU. Fazio's writing has been published in the New York Times, Rolling Stone, Foreign Policy, Washington Post, and The Nation, as well as the anthologies "Retire the Colors," "The Road Ahead," and "It’s My Country, Too."

On September 2, 2020, the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) hosted a virtual panel discussion on a joint report from CNAS and the Center for Strategic and International Studies entitled "Toward a More Proliferated World?" by Eric Brewer, with Ilan Goldenberg, Joseph Rodgers, Maxwell Simon, and Kaleigh Thomas. The event featured a panel discussion with Eric Brewer, Rebecca Friedman Lissner, and Vipin Narang, moderated by Ilan Goldenberg.

On August 27, 2020, the CNAS Technology and National Security Program hosted a virtual discussion on regaining momentum in 5G through the use of open interfaces and modular architecture. It was held in conjunction with the release of the CNAS report, "Open Future: The Way Forward on 5G." This event featured Elsa B. Kania, Adjunct Senior Fellow at CNAS, Yuka Koshino, Research Fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Schuyler Moore, Board Member at Young Professionals in Foreign Policy, and Martijn Rasser, Senior Fellow at CNAS. This event was moderated by Ainikki Riikonen, Research Assistant at CNAS.

On August 12, 2020, the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) hosted author Robert B. Zoellick for a discussion of his new book "America in the World: A History of U.S. Diplomacy and Foreign Policy." CNAS CEO Richard Fontaine sat down with Zoellick for a moderated discussion about the book and its themes.

On June 18, 2020, the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) hosted a virtual discussion about a new CNAS working paper “Comparing VA and Non-VA Medical Centers,” in which authors Drs. Jill Inderstrodt and Shelley MacDermid Wadsworth examined the performance of 125 full-service VA medical centers around the country in comparison to nearby non-VA hospitals with similar characteristics. The authors and CNAS' Kayla M. Williams discussed the working paper's findings in greater detail, including that VA centers in aggregate outperformed or matched non-VA medical centers on three of four clinical measures and two of three patient experience measures.

On June 17, 2020, the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) launched the CNAS 2020 National Security Conference with a conversation between CNAS CEO Richard Fontaine and Axios China Reporter Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian about the challenges and opportunities facing the United States in the world after COVID-19.

On June 8, 2020, the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) partnered with the International Republican Institute (IRI) and the Ronald Reagan Institute (RRI) to virtually host “Reflections on President Reagan’s Westminster Address: Lessons for Defending Freedom and Democracy in Today’s World.” The webinar featured a discussion between CNAS CEO Richard Fontaine and IRI President Dr. Dan Twining moderated by RRI Policy Director Rachel Hoff.

On June 4, 2020, the Technology and National Security Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) hosted a virtual discussion on Russian advances in military automation and AI featuring Samuel Bendett, an Adjunct Senior Fellow with the Technology and National Security Program. The event was moderated by Martijn Rasser, Senior Fellow with the Technology and National Security Program.

On May 21, 2020, the Military, Veterans, and Society Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) and the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service hosted a discussion on how national mobilization can support the United States in a pandemic or post-pandemic world. The discussion examined how strengthened pathways to service, a national mobilization pipeline, and other recommendations gleaned from the Commission's final report, Inspired to Serve, could have better supported the United States in the COVID-19 pandemic and prepare the United States to address future uncertainties. Kayla M. Williams, Director of the CNAS Military, Veterans, and Society Program, moderated the discussion with Dr. Janine Davidson, Commissioner for the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service; Dr. Jason Dempsey, Adjunct Senior Fellow, CNAS; and CAPT Mike Martinez, Senior Military Fellow at CNAS, United States Navy.

On Wednesday, May 20, 2020, the CNAS Technology and National Security Program hosted a virtual panel on emerging concepts in joint command and control featuring Hon. Robert O. Work, Senior Counselor for Defense at the Center for a New American Security and former Deputy Secretary of Defense, and Chris Dougherty, Senior Fellow of the Defense Program. The panel was moderated by Dr. Paul Scharre, Director of the CNAS Technology and National Security Program.

On April 24, 2020, the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) hosted a virtual public event on coercive economic measures in the U.S.-China relationship. The event coincided with the release of a new CNAS report titled "A New Arsenal for Competition: Coercive Economic Measures in the U.S.-China Relationship" by Peter Harrell, Elizabeth Rosenberg, and Ashley Feng, and featured a discussion with the report's authors.

On April 23, 2020, the CNAS Military, Veterans, and Society (MVS) Program hosted a virtual roundtable discussion to consider insights into Afghanistan's preparations for the coronavirus, how the pandemic it is upending already fraught negotiations, and what all of this means for the future of United States involvement in Afghanistan. MVS Adjunct Senior Fellow Jason Dempsey led the discussion with Zohra Rasekh, a human rights expert and CEO of Global Watch Group; Laurel Miller, Director of International Crisis Group’s Asia Program; and Barnett Rubin, Senior Fellow and Associate Director of New York University's Center on International Cooperation.

On April 16, 2020, the CNAS Military, Veterans, and Society Program hosted the inaugural event of the Athena Leadership Project. Moderated by Athena Leadership Project directors Jeannette Gaudry Haynie, PhD and Kyleanne Hunter, PhD, the event featured a conversation with three veteran leaders who explored how their different perspectives and lived experiences shaped their leadership in and out of combat. Discussion panelists included: Misty Posey, Marine Corps officer and previous commander of the Fourth Recruit Training Battalion at Parris Island, SC; Janine Garner, Marine Corps officer and KC-130 pilot; and David Forman, Naval officer and prior commanding officer of the USS Alaska.

On April 14, 2020, the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) hosted a virtual, on-the-record event on the Middle East Security team's report entitled "Countering Iran in the Gray Zone: What the United States Should Learn from Israel's Operations in Syria." The event featured remarks from: Ilan Goldenberg, Senior Fellow and Director of the CNAS Middle East Security Program; Nicholas A. Heras, Middle East Portfolio Manager, Institute for the Study of War; and Kaleigh Thomas, Research Associate, CNAS Middle East Security Program.

On April 9, 2020, the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) hosted a virtual conversation with Edward Wong, Diplomatic Correspondent at The New York Times and Fellow at the Wilson Center, about how COVID-19 could alter the diplomatic, informational, and economic dimensions of the U.S.-China competition in Asia and beyond. CNAS Asia-Pacific Security Program Director Daniel Kliman and Associate Fellow Kristine Lee moderated the discussion.

At a virtual event on March 30, 2020, the CNAS Asia-Pacific Security Program released a new report advancing a blueprint for a community of technology innovation and protection anchored by America and its allies. This event began with an interactive presentation of the report’s key findings and recommendations by the co-authors, Dr. Daniel Kliman, Ben FitzGerald, Kristine Lee, and Joshua Fitt, introduced by CNAS CEO Richard Fontaine.

On Friday, March 27, 2020, the CNAS Energy, Economics, and Security Program hosted a virtual roundtable on the geopolitical impacts that will arise from the global market turmoil caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Hosted by Senior Fellow and Program Director Elizabeth Rosenberg, the event featured remarks from Elina Ribakova, Deputy Chief Economist, Institute of International Finance; Rachel Ziemba, an Adjunct Senior Fellow with the CNAS Energy, Economics, and Security Program; and Peter Harrell, an Adjunct Senior Fellow with the CNAS Energy, Economics, and Security Program.

On Tuesday, March 24, 2020, the CNAS Technology and National Security Program hosted a virtual panel with Paul Scharre, Director of the Technology and National Security Program, and Martijn Rasser, a Senior Fellow with the Technology and National Security Program, to discuss COVID-19 and national security technology policy.

On March 19, 2020, the CNAS Military, Veterans, and Society Program hosted a virtual panel discussion featuring four recently published women veteran authors on their experiences and opinions. Ryan Leigh Dostie, author of Formation: a woman's memoir of stepping out of line; Mary Doyle, author of numerous volumes featuring women who wear combat boots; Kyleanne Hunter, co-editor of Invisible Veterans; and Kaylah Jackson, journalist with ConnectingVets, joined Kayla M. Williams, Director of the CNAS Military, Veterans, and Society Program, to discuss women's experiences in the military and as veterans.