About Us

Simons Center Ribbon Cutting
From left, Foundation CEO Bob Ulin, Fort Leavenworth Commander/CGSC Commandant Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen, Jr., Foundation Chairman Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Robert Arter, Ross Perot, Foundation President Hyrum Smith, and the Chief Operating Officer of the Simons Center, Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Ray Barrett, cut the ribbon for the opening of the Col. Arthur D. Simons Center for the Study of Interagency Cooperation, April 21, 2010. (photo by Don Middleton, Fort Leavenworth VISE)

The Simons Center for Ethical Leadership and Interagency Cooperation is committed to the development of of ethical leaders with interagency operational skills and an interagency body of knowledge that facilitates broader and more effective cooperation and policy implementation. As a research, analysis, studies, and publication center, the Simons Center is focused on the interagency aspects of national security; counterterrorism; stability and reconstruction operations; homeland defense and security; and disaster preparation and response.

The Simons Center is a program of and is funded by the CGSC Foundation. The Simons Center opened its doors on Fort Leavenworth, April 21, 2010, with a grand opening ceremony and ribbon cutting (read the press release). Philanthropist and friend of the Foundation, Mr. Ross Perot, who provided the funds to establish the Simons Center, attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Mr. Perot funded the establishment of the Simons Center to enhance interagency education and scholarship at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC), and to encourage advances in the practice of interagency cooperation throughout the U.S. government.

The Simons Center seeks a better understanding of the many organizational, cultural, and material factors that promote or impede interagency cooperation, and champions the investigation of issues impacting interagency cooperation.

“America’s interagency toolkit is a hodgepodge of jerry-rigged arrangements constrained by a dated and complex patchwork of authorities, persistent shortfalls in resources, and unwieldy processes.”

– ROBERT GATES, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, 2010

THE SIMON’S CENTER MAJOR MISSION AREAS INCLUDE:

image of the cover of the 2022 Simons Center Progress Report

Click the cover image above to view/download the report in a new tab/window

Supporting and Promoting the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.
The Simons Center promotes greater awareness and understanding of interagency dynamics by sponsoring a series of writing competitions for each class designed to encourage research, creative thinking, and fresh insights into the complexities of interagency cooperation. The Simons Center also sponsors prominent speakers and exercise role players for the Command and General Staff College. The Simons Center’s publications capture the core, essential information needed to help prepare students to function effectively in an interagency environment, and its website acts as a research portal, providing students and faculty access to a wealth of interagency knowledge. The Simons Center also promotes curriculum development and funds faculty and student research in their efforts to develop competent, committed leaders of character for the military and the nation.

Building a Body of Interagency Knowledge
The Simons Center’s publications series feature original commentary, study, and analysis of interagency issues. Its flagship publication, the InterAgency Journal, is published quarterly. Simons Center publications provide a forum promoting the exchange of ideas and public discussion of topics dealing with the complexities of interagency operations. Contributors to the InterAgency Journal include U.S. Congressmen, generals and other military leaders, ambassadors and diplomats, senior government officials, and members of the academic community.

The Simons Center’s website acts as a research portal, providing researchers, students, faculty, practitioners, government professionals, and policy makers a unique opportunity to access our extensive interagency bibliography that contains over 2,000 annotated entries, as well as links to over 150 government departments and agencies, academic institutions, and private and non-profit research centers.

Improve Interagency Leadership and Operations
Future military and civilian leaders must be prepared to handle the complexities and uncertainties of the interagency environment. The Simons Center provides tomorrow’s leaders with access to the collective research, study, and wisdom of senior officials experienced in dealing with the intricacies of interagency operations through its publications, conferences, and symposia, and by advocating for legislation that would facilitate greater interagency cooperation through education and rotational assignments.

Support
The Simons Center is funded by private donations through its parent organization, the Command and General Staff College Foundation. Contributions to the Simons Center play an important role in helping fulfill our mission to develop interagency leaders and an interagency body of knowledge. You can join in supporting our mission by making a donation.

Submit Manuscripts
The Simons Center is always looking for authors to contribute manuscripts reflecting their experience, study and insight. Manuscripts may be submitted online through the Contribute Content page.

Privacy Policy
Information about the Simons Center’s privacy policy can be found at www.thesimonscenter.org/privacy-policy.


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