Principal Military Advisor: The Role of the Chairman and Joint Staff Through Strategic Change | 2026 Global Security Forum

What does it mean to provide "best military advice" at the highest levels of national leadership?

Moderated by Kari A. Bingen, Director, Aerospace Security Project and Senior Fellow, Defense and Security Department, Center for Strategic and International Studies, this panel will convene General Joseph F. Dunford Jr., USMC, Ret., Chief Executive Officer, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Congressman William "Mac" Thornberry, Former Chairman, House Armed Services Committee, Admiral John C. Aquilino, USN, Ret., Former Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. The discussion will focus the unique roles and relationships of the Chairman and Joint Staff, including relationships with civilian leadership, Congress, and combatant commands; the changing strategic environment; and the future of warfare.

To view the full forum, please visit: 2026 Global Security Forum, America at 250: A Defining Moment for American Statecraft and Military Power | CSIS Events.

This event is made possible by the generous support of Leonardo DRS.