VMI to Co-Sponsor Conference on U.S. Citizen-Soldier
LEXINGTON, Va., Oct. 2, 2007 – The Virginia Military Institute will continue its association with the McCormick Tribune Foundation by co-sponsoring “The U.S. Citizen-Soldier at War: A Retrospective Look and the Road Ahead” Oct. 12-13 at the First Division Museum – Cantigny in Wheaton, Ill.
The invitation-only conference is designed to bring together scholars and serving military leaders to discuss the role of U.S. National Guard and Reserve forces in national defense.
“This conference brings VMI great visibility off Post, and it dovetails nicely with our mission of educating the citizen-soldier,” said Col. Malcolm Muir Jr., professor of history and director of the John A. Adams ’71 Center for Military History and Strategic Analysis at VMI. “The deliberations will be of benefit to policymakers, and we hope to publish the proceedings very quickly. Also, it’s my hope to partner with the McCormick Tribune Foundation again for a conference on the citizen-soldier and homeland defense here at VMI once our new Leadership and Ethics Center is constructed.”
The upcoming conference will feature a plenary address entitled “The Citizen Soldier: Twilight or Dawn?” by retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Donald Shepperd, former head of the Air National Guard, who commanded more than 110,000 personnel, 1,400 aircraft, 88 flying units and 250 support units spread throughout the 54 states and territories.
Among the panelists are Dr. Charles Moskos of Northwestern University, who is described by the Wall Street Journal as the nation’s most influential military sociologist; retired Marine Col. Allan Millett, senior military advisor for the National World War II Museum and director of the Eisenhower Center for American Studies at the University of New Orleans; Iraq War veteran and Illinois National Guard Maj. L. Tammy Duckworth, who is director of the Illinois Veterans’ Affairs Department; and retired Army Gen. Frederick Kroesen Jr., a four-star general who is a senior fellow at the Institute of Land Warfare of the Association of the United States Army.
“In all we have about 21 stars represented in our line up of speakers,” said Muir, who coordinated the conference program and secured the panelists. “Not only do we have an impressive group of speakers, but also an important topic on which to focus.”
In addition to Muir, VMI will be represented at the conference by Brig. Gen. Charles F. Brower IV, deputy superintendent for academics and dean of the faculty; retired Navy Reserve Capt. Blair P. Turner, professor of history and political science; Maj. Eric Osborne, assistant professor of history; Dr. James L. Adams ’71, executive vice president of the VMI Foundation; and John Adams ’71, benefactor of VMI’s Center for Military History and Strategic Analysis.
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