Ocean Security and Human Rights Forum
June 9, 2026 • 9:30 am – 12:00 pm EDT
Hosted by Human Rights Initiative
Coping with Surprise in Great Power Conflicts
February 20, 2018 • 9:30 – 11:00 am EST
With the rise of great power competition comes the possibility of great power surprise in four dimensions: strategic, technological, doctrinal, and diplomatic. Although some surprise is inevitable, defeat is not. Please join us for the release of the CSIS study Coping with Strategic Surprise in Great Power Conflicts and a panel discussion on how the United States can better anticipate and adapt to the unexpected.
Download the Report
Featuring a panel discussion with:
Dr. Thomas Mahnken
President and Chief Executive Officer, Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments
Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Policy Planning
LtGen Robert Schmidle, Jr., USMC, Ret.
Former Deputy Director, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation
Former Deputy Commander, US Cyber Command
Christine Wormuth
Director, Adrienne Arsht Center for Resilience, Atlantic Council
Former Undersecretary of Defense for Policy
Moderated by:
Mark F. Cancian
Senior Adviser, International Security Program
This event is made possible by support from Smith Richardson Foundation.
