Week in DC: Events 11.2-11.6

Monday, November 2, 2015
Nuclear Policy Talk: Argonne National Lab And National & Global Security –Elliott School of International Affairs
Time: 12:30pm-2pm
Location: Elliott School of International Affairs1957 E St NW, Washington, DC 20052, United States (map)
Since it was established as the nation’s first National Laboratory, Argonne has conducted world class research and development for the Department of Energy. Within weeks after Enrico Fermi and his team produced the first man-made, self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction (in other words, nuclear reactor) at the University of Chicago, Argonne was created just down the road to pursue peaceful uses of the atom, notably a full decade prior to Eisenhower’s famous “Atoms for Peace” speech. Flash forward 7 decades and Argonne is now globally recognized as a leader in many scientific disciplines including nuclear energy, materials science, high performance computing, national security and additional disciplines. This presentation will provide a brief description of what Argonne represents today, where it is heading in the future, and areas of opportunity for collaborations with universities and academic laboratories. While the focus of the presentation will be on national and global security, a broad array of opportunities will be addressed.

NCIS: Current and future operations in investigating and defeating terrorists, foreign intelligence, and criminal threats –Institute of World Politics
Time: 5:30-6:30pm
Location: Institute of World Politics1521 16th Street NW Washington, DC (map)
This event is sponsored by IWP Career Services. Andrew L. Traver, Director of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, will be speaking at The Institute of World Politics on Monday, November 2, 2015 to discuss current and future operations in investigating and defeating terrorists, foreign intelligence, and criminal threats. As the Director of NCIS, Mr. Traver leads the agency as it investigates and defeats terrorist, foreign intelligence, and criminal threats to the United States Navy and Marine Corps wherever they operate: ashore, afloat, or in cyberspace. Mr. Traver’s areas of special emphasis include developing and expanding strong partnerships and liaison with law enforcement organizations, security services, and intelligence agencies worldwide, as well as ensuring agile, adaptive, and responsive NCIS support to the Navy and Marine Corps’ enhanced security posture and global engagements. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service serves to protect the people, equipment, technology and infrastructure of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps by deploying a unique, highly-trained, and effective team of Special Agents, investigators, forensic experts, security specialists, analysts, and support personnel. Predominantly a civilian federal agency, NCIS brings an investigator’s perspective to every mission. NCIS personnel are deployed around the world to support the Navy and Marine Corps wherever needed. Director Traver will also discuss NCIS careers and the future needs of the agency. Join us for this interesting session and learn about the important mission and work of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS). Register

Tuesday, November 3, 2015
Korean Unification: What Would It Take? –RAND Corporation
Time: 8:30am-12:30pm
Location: RAND1200 South Hayes Street, Arlington, VA 22202 (map)
Join us for a half-day conference organized by the RAND Center for Asia Pacific Policy on possible paths toward unification of the Korean peninsula and the longer-term economic, geopolitical, and human security implications of unification. Co-hosted by the Republic of Korea’s Sejong Institute and sponsored by the Korean Consulate General in Los Angeles, top experts on Korea will join RAND analysts to consider how the Republic of Korea, the U.S., and other countries in the region might facilitate unification, as well as address the challenges of working with the current North Korean government.

Wednesday, November 4, 2015
The Crisis In US-Russia Relations, From Ukraine To Syria: Is Congress Overlooking Its Causes And Potential Solutions? -Congressmembers John Conyers, Jr., Steve Cohen, and Barbara Lee
Time: 2-3:30pm
Location: Rayburn House Office Building
Room: 2237
The Ukrainian crises represents a low in U.S.-Russian relations not seen since the fall of the Soviet Union—and the recent Russian intervention in the Syrian Civil War is only making things worse. American and Russian jets flying bombing missions in close proximity to one another raises the possibility of a military accident between two nuclear-armed powers.  As the New York Times warns, the complicated and shifting landscape of alliances leaves us “edging closer to an all-out proxy war between the United States and Russia.” The majority of Americans never lived through the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 or the darkest decades of the Cold War—they have led lives without the looming specter of nuclear war.  But the areas of conflict between our nations are growing—the conflict in Ukraine, the expansion of NATO, Russia’s involvement in Syria, and other lesser issues are driving a new wedge between the U.S. and Russia. While most would agree that conflict between the United States and Russia benefits no one, the likelihood of such conflict, as well as the serious consequences it could bring, is not being adequately discussed on Capitol Hill.  In the interest of fostering more robust debate on U.S.-Russia relations, Rep. Conyers will convene an informal hearing  featuring four eminent American experts on the subject.  All four are members of the Board of the recently re-founded American Committee for East-West Accord (www.eastwestaccord.com) a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization whose purpose is to promote public discussion and debate about the state of U.S. and Russian relations.

ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Nayef –Brookings Institution
Time: 3-4pm
Location: Brookings Institution1775 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, D.C. 20036 (map)
In the recent history of jihadi extremism and the struggle to end its violent agenda, two individuals have emerged as pivotal opponents: the leader of the self-proclaimed Islamic State, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi; and Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Interior Crown Prince Muhammad bin Nayef. While al-Baghdadi has ambitions to extend the power of the Islamic State beyond the Middle East, Crown Prince bin Nayef is one of the United States’ closest allies in the effort to defeat the spread of jihadi terrorism.On November 4, Brookings Fellow William McCants and Senior Fellow Bruce Riedel will discuss the rise, influence, and futures of these two opponents, al-Baghdadi and Crown Prince bin Nayef, in the Middle East and beyond. McCants and Riedel will use visual presentations to profile both men.Following the presentations, BBC international affairs correspondent Kim Ghattas will moderate the discussion, focusing on U.S. and Western policy options in the fight against jihadi extremism. The event is inspired by the pair of complementary Brookings Essays by McCants and Riedel, entitled “The Believer” and “The Prince of Counterterrorism,” respectively.

Thursday, November 5, 2015
Building a More Secure World: Public Diplomacy for 21st Century Actors -Syracuse University Public Diplomacy Program
Time: 8:30am
Location: CSIS1616 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036 (map)
The Public Diplomacy Symposium is an annual meeting that provides an environment in which critical and collaborative discussion and networking can occur between students and professionals in order to advance the field. This year, attendees will have the opportunity to discuss the ways in which public diplomacy is addressing the rising influence of new, 21st century actors.

Northeast Conference on Public Administration (NECoPA) –George Mason University School of Policy, Government, and International Affairs
Time: Thursday- Saturday, 9am-5pm each day
Location: George Mason University Arlington Campus
Professional Rate -$135.00
Student Rate -$80.00
One-Day Practitioner -$50.00
The Northeast Conference on Public Administration (NECoPA) is an annual, regional conference of the American Society for Public Administration. This year’s theme, Challenges of Governance in Global Uncertainty, focuses on policy and management problems that were once international in scope but are now considered state and/or local concerns. The conference will be held at George Mason University hosted by the School of Policy, Government, and International Affairs and its Centers on the Public Service, November 5-7, 2015, at Founders Hall.
For more information and to register, please visit http://psc.gmu.edu/necopa.

Friday, November 6, 2015
Northeast Conference on Public Administration (NECoPA) –George Mason University School of Policy, Government, and International Affairs
Time: Thursday- Saturday, 9am-5pm each day
Location: George Mason University Arlington Campus
Professional Rate -$135.00
Student Rate -$80.00
One-Day Practitioner -$50.00
The Northeast Conference on Public Administration (NECoPA) is an annual, regional conference of the American Society for Public Administration. This year’s theme, Challenges of Governance in Global Uncertainty, focuses on policy and management problems that were once international in scope but are now considered state and/or local concerns. The conference will be held at George Mason University hosted by the School of Policy, Government, and International Affairs and its Centers on the Public Service, November 5-7, 2015, at Founders Hall.
For more information and to register, please visit http://psc.gmu.edu/necopa.