Global Security Forum 2025: Agenda and Speakers

May 13, 2025 • 8:00 am – 5:00 pm EDT

Join the CSIS Defense and Security Department for its annual flagship conference, the 2025 Global Security Forum. This year's Forum will focus on the theme, Strength Through the Storm: Industry Innovation, and the Future of U.S. Military Power. Speakers will discuss the evolution of the U.S. industrial base and how the United States can harness sources of American strength to address out Nation's security challenges.

Speakers

Eric D. Chewning

Eric D. Chewning

Executive Vice President of Strategy and Development, HII, and Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Policy

Senator Joni Ernst

Senator Joni Ernst

Chair, Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee and Chair, Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities

Nini Hamrick

Nini Hamrick

President, Vannevar Labs

Dr. Arthur Herman

Dr. Arthur Herman

Senior Fellow and Director, Quantum Alliance Initiative, Hudson Institute

Vice Admiral Peter W. Gautier

Vice Admiral Peter W. Gautier

Acting Vice Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard

Corey Johnston

Corey Johnston

Executive Vice President, Strider Technologies

Senator Mark Kelly

Senator Mark Kelly

Ranking Member, Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Airland and Co-Chair, Senate Defense Modernization Caucus

Admiral James W. Kilby

Admiral James W. Kilby

Vice Chief of Naval Operations, U.S. Navy

Hon. William J. Lynn III

Hon. William J. Lynn III

Chief Executive Officer, Leonardo DRS, and Former Deputy Secretary of Defense

General Christopher J. Mahoney

General Christopher J. Mahoney

Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, U.S. Marine Corps

Ernest Malato

Ernest Malato

Director of Logistics, Central Intelligence Agency

Senator Mitch McConnell

Senator Mitch McConnell

Chair, Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense

General James J. Mingus

General James J. Mingus

Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, U.S. Army

General (Ret.) Mike Minihan

General (Ret.) Mike Minihan

Former Commander, Air Mobility Command, U.S. Air Force

Lt. Gen. Scott L. Pleus

Lt. General Scott L. Pleus

Acting Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, U.S. Air Force

John "Jay" Raymond

General (Ret). John “Jay” Raymond

Senior Managing Director, Cerberus Capital Management, and Former Chief of Space Operations, U.S. Space Force

Congressman Pat Ryan

Congressman Pat Ryan

Member, House Committee on Armed Services and Co-Chair, House Defense Modernization Caucus

Lt. Gen. (Ret.) John N.T. “Jack” Shanahan

Lt. General (Ret.) John N.T. “Jack” Shanahan

Former Director, Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, Department of Defense, and Former Director, Algorithmic Warfare Cross-Functional Team (Project Maven)

Jennifer Stewart

Jennifer Stewart

Executive Vice President for Strategy and Policy, National Defense Industrial Association and Senior Adviser (Non-resident), Defense and Security Department, CSIS

Roger Zakheim

Roger Zakheim

Washington Director, Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute

Event Agenda

Introduction and Welcome Remarks

8:00 am

Dr. John J. Hamre, President and CEO and Langone Chair in American Leadership, CSIS

The Evolution of America’s Defense Industrial Base: From Freedom’s Forge to the Last Supper to the First Breakfast

8:15 am

Dr. Arthur Herman, Senior Fellow and Director, Quantum Alliance Initiative, Hudson Institute
Dr. Seth G. Jones, President, Defense and Security Department and Harold Brown Chair, CSIS
Jennifer Stewart, Executive Vice President for Strategy and Policy, National Defense Industrial Association and Senior Advisor (Non-resident), Defense and Security Department, CSIS

Eric D. Chewning, Executive Vice President of Strategy & Development, HII, and Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Policy

Defense Modernization and Innovation: A Conversation with Congressional National Security Leaders

10:00 am

Senator Joni Ernst, Chair, Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee and Chair, Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities

Senator Mark Kelly, Ranking Member, Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Airland and Co-Chair, Senate Defense Modernization Caucus

Congressman Pat Ryan, Member, House Committee on Armed Services and Co-Chair, House Defense Modernization Caucus

Roger Zakheim, Washington Director, Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute

Reflections on “American Leadership and American Strength” with Senator Mitch McConnell

10:45 am

Senator Mitch McConnell, Chair, Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense

Dr. John J. Hamre, President and CEO and Langone Chair in American Leadership, CSIS

Lunch Break

11:30 am

The Last Escudo: Power, Production, and the Path to Victory

12:30 pm

Hon. William J. Lynn III, Chief Executive Officer, Leonardo DRS, and Former Deputy Secretary of Defense
General (Ret.) Mike Minihan, Former Commander, Air Mobility Command, U.S. Air Force

Ernest Malato, Director of Logistics, Central Intelligence Agency

Kari A. Bingen, Director, Aerospace Security Project and Senior Fellow, Defense and Security Department, CSIS

What Works? Leading Disruption in Industry and Government

2:00 pm

General (Ret). John “Jay” Raymond, Senior Managing Director, Cerberus Capital Management, and Former Chief of Space Operations, U.S. Space Force

Lt. General (Ret.) John N.T. “Jack” Shanahan, Former Director, Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, Department of Defense, and Former Director, Algorithmic Warfare Cross-Functional Team (Project Maven)

Nini Hamrick, President, Vannevar Labs

Corey Johnston, Executive Vice President, Strider Technologies

Emily Harding, Vice President, Defense and Security Department and Director, Intelligence, National Security, and Technology Program, CSIS

Shaping the Spear: Service Vice Chiefs on the Future of U.S. Military Power

3:30 pm

General James J. Mingus, Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, U.S. Army
General Christopher J. Mahoney, Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, U.S. Marine Corps
Admiral James W. Kilby, Vice Chief of Naval Operations, U.S. Navy
Lt. General Scott L. Pleus, Acting Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, U.S. Air Force
Vice Admiral Peter Gautier, Acting Vice Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard

Dr. Seth G. Jones, President, Defense and Security Department and Harold Brown Chair, CSIS

Closing Remarks

4:45 pm

Dr. John J. Hamre, President and CEO and Langone Chair in American Leadership, CSIS

Event agenda is subject to change.