ARNSF focuses on private sector impact on diplomacy

The CGSC Foundation’s Simons Center hosted an Arter-Rowland National Security Forum luncheon event on March 23, 2023, at the Carriage Club in Kansas City.

Simons Center Director Bob Ulin opened the event welcoming the ARNSF members, some of whom introduced their personal guests.

After the lunch period, Ambassador (Ret.) David C. Miller, Jr, president of the U. S. Diplomatic Studies Foundation, led a discussion on the critical role played by the private sector in the confrontation and defeat of two existential threats to our country – the challenge of China and the collapse of many “developing countries.” Miller focused his remarks on Africa where he worked for Westinghouse for four years in Nigeria, served as an ambassador to both Tanzania and Zimbabwe, and later was responsible for African relations on the National Security Council.

(Top photo and above) Ambassador (Ret.) David C. Miller, Jr, president of the U. S. Diplomatic Studies Foundation, discusses the private sector and diplomacy during the Arter-Rowland National Security Forum luncheon event on March 23, 2023, at the Carriage Club in Kansas City.

Ambassador (Ret.) David C. Miller, Jr., is an American lawyer, diplomat, and philanthropist. He currently serves as president of the U.S. Diplomatic Studies Foundation and is partner/founder of Torch Hill Capital, a private equity firm. In government, he served as a Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (1989-1990), handling accounts for Africa, counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics, and hostage rescue. He has served as ambassador to Tanzania (1981-84) and Zimbabwe (1984-86)during the Reagan administration, as well as on the African Development Foundation board of directors. In the private sector, he worked for several years as an executive with Westinghouse in a variety of international line and staff positions. During the Vietnam War, he worked in country on projects for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA). He is a former White House Fellow, Confidential Assistant to the U.S. Attorney General, Chairman of the Special Operations Fund, and an author of several scholarly articles, reports, and books. He is an honor graduate from Harvard University and received his JD from University of Michigan School of Law. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the American Academy of Diplomacy, and the District of Columbia Bar.

After the presentation and a question and answer period, Ulin presented Miller with a new CGSC/Simons Center coffee mug and Simons Center 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

Ambassador Miller’s visit to Fort Leavenworth begin on March 21 with a briefing on the Simons Center by Director Bob Ulin and Deputy Director John Nelson along with CGSC Foundation President/CEO Rod Cox.

The morning of March 22, he spent time with Col. Todd Schmidt, director of Army University Press, and visited with the director of the Advanced Strategic Planning and Policy Program (ASP3) in the School for Advanced Military Studies (SAMS). He attended a CGSC brown-bag lunch with guest speaker Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Robert F. Foley, Medal of Honor recipient from actions in Vietnam and the father of the current CGSC Deputy Commandant Brig. Gen. David C. Foley. Miller was also a guest that afternoon in the “On Azimuth” podcast hosted by Dr. Trent Lythgoe in the Department of Command and Leadership. After the podcast he attended a meeting of the Fort Leavenworth-Roger Donlon Chapter of the Foreign Area Officers Association (FAOA) in downtown Leavenworth, Kansas.

On March 23, after his time with the ARNSF, he visited Park University and later met with International Relations Council members in downtown Kansas City. Finally, on March 24 before his departure he met with CGSC interagency officers and SAMS Fellows and SAMS Director Col. Andy Morgado.

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 senior executives.

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 cohosted by the CGSC Foundation’s Simons Center and the Kansas City Chapter of the Association of the United States Army (KCAUSA).