Gregory Copeland, President, File Bank, Oakland NJ, participated in the U.S. Army War College 61st Annual National Security Seminar in Carlisle, Pa., June 1-4, 2015.
Gregory Copeland of Oakland (1st row, 2nd from left) posed with seminar colleagues from the US military, Switzerland, UAE and Burundi during the Army War College National Security Seminar, June 1-4. Congressional District Director from Virginia, Executive Director from Iowa, an Engineer from New York and four other American citizens were invited to join the special academic seminar and exchange thoughts about national security topics in the capstone phase of the graduate program.
Copeland was one of approximately 155 business, government, academic and community leaders selected from across the country to take part in the week-long academic seminar alongside the students of the Army War College. During the special academic event, Copeland represented fellow American citizens in discussions with the next generation of senior leaders of the U.S. Armed Forces that gave the senior military students a deeper understanding of the society they serve. The National Security Seminar was the capstone event of the Army War College’s 10-month curriculum, just before the Class of 2015 graduated with the Master’s degree in Strategic Studies.
The NSS forum was structured around a daily presentation about an issue of significance to the nation’s security, followed by extended and candid discussion of the topic within one of 24 seminars. Featured speakers for this year’s NSS included retired Gen. Charles Jacoby, Jr., Commander of the U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) and North American Defense Command (NORAD) from 2011-2014; the Honorable James Steinberg, Deputy Secretary of State from 2009-2011; retired Vice Admiral Mike McConnell, Director of National Intelligence from 2007-2009; and Ambassador Ron Kirk, U.S. Trade Representative from 2009-2013.
Mr. Copeland became a member of USAWC Seminar 13, comprising Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force officers at the rank of colonel or lieutenant colonel, a senior federal civilian, and three international officers, representing Switzerland, UAE and Burundi. He was invited to share perspectives, background and experiences in seminar dialogue that enriched the students’ understanding of fellow Americans in the society they serve.
The Army War College resident class of 2015 includes 387 students who represent a cross-section of the joint military, federal agency and multinational security environment: 217 Army officers, 12 Navy, 32 Air Force, 17 Marine Corps officers and one Coast Guard officer of the Active, Reserve/ National Guard forces. The class includes 79 international officers from 73 countries, and 29 senior civilians of federal agencies.
The U.S. Army War College educates and develops leaders for service at the strategic level while advancing knowledge in the global application of land power.
Established in 1901 in Washington D.C., the Army War College relocated in 1951 to historic Carlisle Barracks, Pa. and today, it educates more than 1500 senior leaders and strategists annually through a variety of specialized strategic education programs.
Learn more about the U.S. Army War College and the National Security Seminar at www.carlisle.army.mil or www.facebook.com/usawc.