May 7, 2012

Photo: USIP Senior Vice President Pamela Aall (right) with Amb. Tina Kaidanow, principal deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian Affairs (center), and Daria Daniels Skodnik of the NATO Defense College (right)

On May 2, USIP hosted NATO Defense College (NDC) Senior Course 120, which consisted of 74 senior military officers from 31 countries worldwide, as part of the group's Transatlantic Field Study trip to Washington, DC. NDC Dean Dr. Richard Hooker and Brigadier General Patrick Desjardins of France, dean of Academic Operations, led the delegation; Daria Daniels Skodnik coordinated the trip for NDC.

Pamela Aall, provost of USIP's Academy for International Conflict Management and Peacebuilding, welcomed the group and introduced Ambassador Tina Kaidanow, principal deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian Affairs, to address the students. Ambassador Kaidanow provided a preview of the upcoming NATO Summit in Chicago as well an overview of U.S. foreign policy challenges and priorities, with a special focus on the central role of Europe in helping maintain international security.

The discussion continued with an overview of the Institute's role, mission, and programs by USIP Chief of Staff Paul Hughes. Hughes was followed by a panel discussion on key and emerging nuclear issues by USIP experts Michael Lekson, Bruce MacDonald and Brian Rose. The session emphasized future challenges for deterrence, prospects for and implications of further negotiated reductions in nuclear weapons, and challenges affecting the health of the international nonproliferation regime.

The group also had meetings on the Hill as well as at the White House and the Pentagon, and visited Arlington National Cemetery.