ARNSF members learn about Operation Enduring Freedom in the Philippines

The CGSC Foundation’s Simons Center hosted an Arter-Rowland National Security Forum luncheon event on May 16, 2024, at the Carriage Club in Kansas City. The event featured a presentation on Operation Enduring Freedom–Philippines.

Simons Center Director Bob Ulin welcomed the ARNSF members and welcomed guests. After lunch, he introduced the guest speaker Dr. Barry M. Stentiford, a professor of history in the School of Advanced Military Studies at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

(Top photo and above) Dr. Barry M. Stentiford, a professor of history in the School of Advanced Military Studies at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas provides a presentation on Operation Enduring Freedom–Philippines during the Arter-Rowland National Security Forum luncheon event on May 16, 2024, at the Carriage Club in Kansas City.

Stentiford recounted the OEF-P campaign which was conducted from 2002 to 2015. He described it as a small campaign, which although it garnered very few headlines, was highly successful and accomplished its goals. Stentiford described how with a cap of six-hundred US military personnel, the Americans worked “by, with, and through” the Philippine security forces to assist them in regaining control over the region. The efforts of the United States helped transform what had been a direct threat to the sovereignty of the Philippines and a strategic threat to the United States into a chronic law-enforcement issue. He said OEF-P’s success provides a model for future counterinsurgencies. The campaign also helped reset the strategic relationship between the United States and the Philippines as they face an increased threat from China.

Barry M. Stentiford served in Operation Enduring Freedom—Philippines in 2011 through 2012, writing the official classified history of the operation for U.S. Special Operations Command and an unclassified history for the U.S. Army Combat Studies Institute. He has been a professor of history in the School of Advanced Military Studies at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, since 2009. His academic focus is on non-regular U.S. forces. He is the author of six books and numerous articles.

Stentiford served in the United States Air Force, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve, retiring as a colonel. He holds a Ph.D. in military history from the University of Alabama, a master’s in American history from the University of Montana, and a Masters of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.

After the presentation and a question and answer period, Ulin presented Stentiford with a new CGSC/Simons Center coffee mug and coin in appreciation for his time with the Forum. Ulin closed out the luncheon with a short brief about the schedule for future gatherings of the Forum.

For more photos see the CGSC Foundation Flickr album

The Arter-Rowland National Security Forum (ARNSF) is led by the CGSC Foundation’s Simons Center and is an exclusive professional information sharing and networking forum for those interested in keeping abreast of relevant information about national security issues.

Members of the Forum and their guests meet periodically at guest speaker events in downtown Kansas City. National and regional guest speakers representing all elements of national power (Diplomatic, Informational, Military and Economic) highlight the meetings. The Forum is nonpartisan, but elected government officials may present from time to time.

The Forum is named after Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Robert Arter, Founding Chairman of the CGSC Foundation, and Mr. Landon Rowland, the Foundation’s first major donor who was well-known in Kansas City for his keen interest in national security issues and his leadership in business and philanthropy.

ARNSF events are only open to ARNSF members and their guests. If you are not a member but are interested in joining, contact Bob Ulin at rulin@cgscf.org or visit the Forum page on the Simons Center website for more information.

The Arter-Rowland National Security Forum is an exclusive professional information sharing
and networking forum exclusively for select invitees of the CGSC Foundation and its Simons Center.