Civil Affairs Transitions Roundtable

Civil Affairs and Strategic Communications: The Deeds and the Words

October 2, 2008

5th Floor, Reserve Officers Association Building

One Constitution Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002

 

In earlier roundtables, the observation was made that the center of gravity for stability operations is the human population in the area of operations.  Civil affairs professionals and information operators are the key national security resources for influencing the human population.  Civil affairs professionals assist in humanitarian operations and building civilian capacity.  Information operators develop messages and keeping the population informed.  This roundtable will explore the relationship between the civil affairs and strategic communications functions.

 

 

8:00                       Registration/Coffee

 

8:30                       Welcome

                              Mr. Bob Feidler

                              Reserve Officers Association

                             

                              Prof. Dave Davis, Director

                              Peace Operations Policy Program, George Mason University

 

8:35                       Roundtable Overview

                              Mr. David C. Mitchell, APR

                              Advisor, Civil Affairs Transitions Roundtables Planning Committee

 

8:45                       Civil Affairs

                              Moderator:  Mr. Bob Feidler

 

                              Panelists

                              COL R. Alan King

                              COL(R) Joe R. Schroeder

                                               

9:45                       Break        

 

10:00                     Strategic Communications

                              Moderator:  Mr. David Mitchell

 

                              Panelists

                              Charles "Jack" Holt, Office, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs

COL(R) Robert M. Schoenhaus, U.S. Special Operations Command's Washington Office

Mr. William B. Reinckens, Department of State

                             

12:00                     Lunch

 

                             

1:00                       Foreign Reaction            

                              Moderator:  Prof. Dave Davis

 

                              Panelists

                              Mr. Carl Botan, George Mason University

                              Mr. Chris Stewart, Gallup organization

                              Mr. Matt Drane, Gallup organization

                                   

2:00                       Open Discussion

                             

2:30                       Concluding Remarks and Adjourn