250 years ago: key military, political, diplomatic, economic events as the American Revolution entered its second year. NSDM staff panel discussion moderated by Capt. Mark McDonagh, USN/ret
Description:
1776, 250 years ago, was a time of events, great and small, as the American Revolution entered its second year. Military, political, diplomatic, economic, the Colonials struggled with what it would take to be a nation apart from Britain, while the Crown sought to hold on to control across 3,000 miles. A narrative of events and their immediate and long-term implications, panel discussion by the National Security Decision Making Game staff. Useful background for the Revolution Crisis Megagame immediately following. Moderated by Capt. Mark McDonagh, USN/ret., with 12 years' experience at the Naval War College.
How the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 changed US policy and changed the world. Panel by NSDMG staff, moderated by Merle Robinson with Capt Mark McDonagh, USN/ret. and Maj Scott Macmann, USA/ret.
Description:
The world changed on Sept. 11, 2001, especially for US citizens. Having enjoyed a decade with the Cold War over & the Soviet Union disbanded, US & pro-Western allies luxuriated in a period of reduced military expenditures and the apparent end of the nuclear balance of terror. But the attack directly in the heart of America’s largest city, destroying landmarks recognized world-over, brought to the forefront a conflict that had been back-burnered in the minds of most security strategists. The 25th anniversary of the attacks, this lecture reviews the major actions & policy changes that resulted. Moderated by Merle Robinson, retired DoD analyst, with Capt. Mark McDonagh, USN/ret., former nuclear submarine officer with 12 years' experience at the Naval War College, & Maj. Scott Macmann, USA/ret., Army Intelligence Officer, of the National Security Decision Making Game staff.
"Nuclear waste" isn’t always what it seems. Some waste isotopes are needed, & are scarce! Explore a surprising shortage of materials like Pu-238, vital for space exploration. Izaac Falken, NSDM staff.
Description:
While we face challenges managing nuclear waste, a less discussed but equally critical issue is the shortage of specific isotopes which are the byproducts of nuclear material processing. These isotopes, like Pu-238, are essential to support our technological society and enable research for its advancement. We'll explore the discovery of these surprisingly useful materials, the political and economic reasons behind their scarcity, and the impact they have on space exploration, medicine, research and commerce. We'll go on to examine some solutions for ensuring their delivery today and into tomorrow. Presented by Izaac Falken, on the National Security Decision Making Game staff.
Laser, high powered microwave & particle beam weapons: fiction yesterday becoming reality today. Fact vs. fiction, what is the near-term potential? Capt. Mark McDonagh, USN/ret., physicist, NSDM staff
Description:
Long the weapon of choice for science fiction authors and screenplay writers, fictional, so-called "death rays" have done everything from burn up electronics to blow up planets. And that's not even addressing the sharks question. With the deployment of operational laser weapons, these are no longer entirely science fiction. This lecture will discuss current developments in directed energy weapons, attempting to separate fact and potential from fiction and fancy, and project their near-term use as both combat weapons and terrorist tools. Presentation will delve into the physics of these systems. Presented by Capt. Mark McDonagh, USN/ret., a submarine officer with 12 years' experience at the Naval War College and with BS and MS degrees in physics, now on the NSDMG staff.
European challenges: Russia/Ukraine, economy, immigration, evolving US relations. Overview of the next 20 years, how will this affect the continent & the world? Panel by Merle Robinson w/NSDM staff.
Description:
Europe is confronting some of the most critical challenges it has faced since the Cold War, with immigration changing demographics and with it fundamental cultural individualisms, with their long partnership with the U.S. entering a phase of tumultuous relations and reexaminations, with an industrial base struggling to reconcile with a climate agenda, and with a growing concern over Russia in light of the ongoing Ukraine war and energy considerations. How will Europe evolve over the next 20 years, and how will this affect the policies and politics, the economies and the security balance of European states, of the continent, and of the world? Panel by the National Security Decision Making Game staff, moderated by Merle Robinson, retired DoD analyst, with Capt. Mark McDonagh, USN/ret., former nuclear submarine officer with 12 years' experience at the Naval War College.
Singularity from AI's predictions to future possibilities. Intelligence explosions & societal impacts. Will we ride this wave or be left behind? Science vs Science Fiction. Izaac Falken, NSDM Staff.
Description:
Explore 'The Singularity': from AI's historic predictions to future possibilities. Dive into intelligence explosions, AGI trajectories, and their societal impacts. Will we ride this wave or be left behind? Lecture attempts to separate facts, engineering & science from science fiction & demagoguery. Izaac Falken of the NSDM Staff.
The National Security Decision Making Game staff reviews recent changes and things to watch next year, including hotspots: Israel, Russia, China, Europe, Iran, North Korea. What's CNN missing?
Description:
Overview, analysis and insights on current and near-future world affairs. This panel discussion and seminar, the signature event of the National Security Decision Making (NSDM) Game staff, explores current, and potential future, problem areas around the world with a focus on domestic/international areas they feel may not have gotten the attention from the media, and possibly even from Western national security agencies, that they warrant. Want to know what to expect in the next year? What might happen and what are its implications? What are drivers, what indicators to watch for, and how might events be affected by the U.S. and the West? What potential catastrophes is CNN missing?
Hackers in the Movies: Sometimes They Don't Get it Entirely Wrong
Summary:
Movies usually get things wrong when depicting hackers & their capabilities. A look at some popular movies & what they might have gotten not-wrong. By Izaac Falken of the NSDM staff.
Description:
Movies often get things wrong when depicting hackers and their capabilities. We'll take a light-hearted look at some popular hacking and computer-focused movies and see what they might have gotten not-wrong. Presented by Izaac Falken, a computer hacker who grew up hitchhiking on the information superhighway. He's a frequent speaker on cyber matters and a sought-after consultant specializing in security architectures and penetration testing, on the National Security Decision Making Game staff
Confederate sub Hunley, concept origins, prototypes, operations leading to attack on Housatonic. The crew. Sister ships. What it meant to submarine warfare. Capt. Mark McDonagh, USN/ret., NSDMG staff
Description:
Confederate submarine Hunley, aka the Fish Boat, was the first submarine to sink a ship in combat. Lecture will discuss the origins of the concept, previous prototypes, her construction, the operations leading up to and the attack on USS Housatonic on Feb. 17, 1864, the aftermath, and sister ships. Also covered are what is known about the men who crewed the submarine on that day, follow-on Confederate submarine projects, and what Hunley meant to the development of submarine warfare technology. Presented by Capt. Mark McDonagh, USN/ret., physicist and former nuclear submarine officer with 12 years' experience at the Naval War College, on the National Security Decision Making Game staff.
Piracy off the Horn of Africa. US attacking purported drug cartel boats. The international framework for maritime law. Panel by Merle Robinson, Capt. Mark McDonagh of the NSDM staff
Description:
Piracy off the horn of Africa, the Straits of Malacca, and other locations have brought about coordinated, international anti-piracy efforts. Recent US actions against purported drug-carrying small craft have opened a question regarding law of the sea, what constitutes lawful acts and where the border is. Panel will discuss historical framework for piracy and maritime law, current international treaties and efforts, and where this may be heading in the future. Moderated by Merle Robinson, retired DoD analyst, with Capt. Mark McDonagh, USN/ret., former nuclear submarine officer with 12 years' experience at the Naval War College, of the National Security Decision Making Game staff.