August '49, first Soviet nuclear test changed the Cold War. Western analysts thought it would not be for 4-5 years. Spies, design, impact. Capt. Mark McDonagh, USN/ret., physicist on NSDMG staff.
Description:
August 29, 1949, Soviet Union tests its first nuclear weapon at what would become a major test site in Kazakhstan. Similar to the US Fatman, it was a plutonium implosion weapon of about 22 kiloton yield. The test, which the Soviets called RDS-1, also Izdeliye 501 (Device 501) & First Lightning, was code named as Joe-1 (after Joseph Stalin) by the West. It surprised most analysts who thought the USSR would not be a nuclear power for 4-5 years. This changed the nature of the still-newborn Cold War. Lecture discusses stolen Manhattan Project data, detection of the test by US intel, Soviet design, Soviet follow-up & impact on developmental weapons programs by both sides & on the Cold War in general. Presented by Capt. Mark McDonagh, USN/ret., physicist & former nuclear submarine officer with 12 years' experience at the Naval War College, on the National Security Decision Making Game 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?
Covering technologies available before the modern era, useful for historians & those interested in potential fantasy & steampunk devices. Merle Robinson, National Security Decision Making Game staff
Description:
Covering technologies available before the modern era. Intended to be useful for historians as well as those interested in potential fantasy & steampunk devices. Presented by Merle Robinson, lead simulation designer and retired DoD analyst, on the National Security Decision Making Game staff.
The Boston Tea Party led England to impose what American Colonists dubbed Intolerable Acts. Deterioration of relations through 1774 led to war in 1775. Jason Corner & Mark McDonagh, NSDMG staff.
Description:
The Coercive Acts, passed in London after the December 1773 Boston Tea Party to punish the unruly Bostonians, were quickly dubbed the Intolerable Acts by the American Colonists who felt that no English citizen should be forced to tolerate such treatment. What followed was a year of message and response which, with more reasonable people on both sides, might have reconciled the conflict. But instead the year 1774 marked a deterioration of relations into the decidedly irreconcilable zone. This resulted in revolution in 1775. Lecture discusses the sequence of events that transitioned the disagreement into full war, the personalities and their contributions both positive and negative, and the potential for a different outcome. Presented by Jason Corner, lead modeling designer, and Capt. Mark McDonagh, USN/ret., on the National Security Decision Making Game staff.
Current trends extrapolated to 2066, assessing impacts. Industry, military, medical tech, environment/climate, social changes. Merle Robinson, lead designer, National Security Decision Making Game.
Description:
An overview of today's trends, extrapolating into 2066 & assessing their impacts. Lecture covers industrial, military, medical & other technologies; climate and environmental issues such as pollution, temperatures & extinction events; likely upcoming social changes as we can see from here. Presented by Merle Robinson, lead simulation designer and retired DoD analyst, on the National Security Decision Making Game staff.
Lecture highlights military lessons learned from wars in the current era, how they show that the nature of war has evolved, & what this means going forward. Dr. Craig Greathouse, NSDM staff.
Description:
The nature of war is constant, but always evolving. 21st Century conflicts to date highlight the consistency & the evolution of war in the current era. Lecture examines military lessons that can be drawn, from the long wars of the US to the bloodshed of the Israeli/Hamas war. What have we learned & how might it change our thinking in terms of using force in the international system going forward? Topics: the impact of evolving technology on the battlefield, war as a technology incubator, logistics, training, defensive fortifications, artillery & strike capability improvements, war in the air, information on the battlefield, political will, and how the guys on the ground still matter. Presented by Dr. Craig Greathouse, Professor of Political Science specializing in the EU, International Relations Theory and Security and Defense Policy, of the National Security Decision Making Game staff.
Naval Warfare in the US Civil War: History or Steampunk? An NSDM panel
Summary:
Strategy to operations, new tech. Steam frigates, ironclads & monitors, submarines, commerce raiders, blockades, riverine warfare. Prof. Craig Greathouse, Capt. Mark McDonagh, USN/ret., NSDMG staff.
Description:
The US Civil War can be described as the first major conflict to focus the full advantages of the Industrial Revolution. The naval war saw steam frigates, ironclads & monitors, submarines & semi-submersibles, commerce raiders, blockades & blockade runners and contact mines. The Union's Anaconda Plan was to strangle the Confederacy with a blockade then partition it with riverine warfare. The South responded with new tech including ironclads & subs to keep the lines of communication & commerce open. Panel examines the naval war from strategy to operations, with an eye toward what was new. Dr. Craig Greathouse, Professor of Political Science specializing in the EU, International Relations Theory and Security and Defense Policy, with Capt. Mark McDonagh, USN/ret., with 12 years' experience at the Naval War College, both on the National Security Decision Making Game staff.
Fast-paced version of NSDMG's geopolitical-military RPG. It's the world of today or just a few years from now. You're a key leader in a major nation. You're called in after hours. What's wrong now?
Description:
Near-future, 2-hour crisis-oriented variant of the geopolitical, military and economic role-playing National Security Decision Making MegaGame with futuristic and science fiction elements. Take a senior leadership in the US, China, Russia, or other major power, facing a world crisis that might be tomorrow's real-world headline. It's the world almost as you know it, everything's normal, then you're called in after-hours and learn that everything's no longer normal, not by a long shot. Expect anything from crazed dictators, revolutions, space pirates, environmental crises, uncontrolled and malignant artificial intelligence, universal state surveillance, new technologies, genetic breakthroughs, and other surprises in a world that is not quite "as-you-know-it." Presented by the National Security Decision Making MegaGame staff.
Fast-paced version of NSDMG's geopolitical-military RPG. It's the world of today or just a few years from now. You're a key leader in a major nation. You're called in after hours. What's wrong now?
Description:
Near-future, 2-hour crisis-oriented variant of the geopolitical, military and economic role-playing National Security Decision Making MegaGame with futuristic and science fiction elements. Take a senior leadership in the US, China, Russia, or other major power, facing a world crisis that might be tomorrow's real-world headline. It's the world almost as you know it, everything's normal, then you're called in after-hours and learn that everything's no longer normal, not by a long shot. Expect anything from crazed dictators, revolutions, space pirates, environmental crises, uncontrolled and malignant artificial intelligence, universal state surveillance, new technologies, genetic breakthroughs, and other surprises in a world that is not quite "as-you-know-it." Presented by the National Security Decision Making MegaGame staff.
Near-future variant of the geopolitical, military and economic role-playing game. Crazed dictators, space pirates, environmental crises, malignant AI, genetic breakthroughs, and other surprises.
Description:
Near-future variant of the geopolitical, military and economic role-playing National Security Decision Making MegaGame. Players take senior leadership positions in a real-world nation. Explore the boundaries between science fact and science fiction. Experience world crises and experience mysterious events in this futuristic scenario. Deal with world challenges. Expect anything from crazed dictators, revolutions, space pirates, environmental crises, uncontrolled and malignant artificial intelligence, universal state surveillance, new technologies, genetic breakthroughs, and other surprises in a world that is changing before your eyes. Presented by the National Security Decision Making MegaGame staff.