ARNSF explores ‘generalship’

The CGSC Foundation’s Simons Center hosted an Arter-Rowland National Security Forum luncheon event on June 19, 2025, at the Carriage Club in Kansas City. The event featured a presentation entitled “Generalship in contemporary times,” by Nicholas Prime, Ph.D., from the School of Advanced Military Students at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

(Top photo and above) Nicholas Prime, Ph.D., from the School of Advanced Military Students at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, provides a presentation on “contemporary generalship” during the Arter-Rowland National Security Forum luncheon event on June 19, 2025, at the Carriage Club in Kansas City.

ARNSF program leader Bob Ulin kicked off the Forum welcoming the ARNSF members and their guests. After lunch, he introduced Prime.

In his presentation, Prime discussed the contemporary challenge of generalship. He presented the takeaways from a 3 1/2-year study he conducted at the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, on the role of 4-star general/flag officers at the national strategic level. He also discussed the general officer mindset, perspective, and the “practice” of civil-military relations that are critical competencies for 4-star military officers.

After the presentation and a question and answer period, Ulin presented Prime with a Foundation/Simons Center coffee mug and challenge coin in appreciation for his time with the Forum. Ulin also provided information about future ARNSF gatherings.

For more photos see the CGSC Foundation Flickr album

Nicholas C. Prime, Ph.D., is an associate professor of military history for the Advanced Military Studies Program in the School of Advanced Military Studies at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Previously, he served as a fellow with the Army Strategic Education Program (ASEP), and an instructor at the U.S. Army War College. During this time, he supported ASEP’s general officer education mission by leading an initiative sponsored by the Chief of Staff of the Army, producing studies on the practice of generalship at the national strategic level, in order to better prepare the Army’s next generation of strategic leaders. Prior to this, Nicholas was the inaugural Smith-Richardson Fellow in Maritime, Naval, and Strategic Studies with the International Security Studies & the Brady-Johnson Grand Strategy Program at Yale University. He was also the U.S. Naval History & Heritage Command’s Rear Admiral John D. Hayes Fellow and the U.S. Naval War College’s Edward S. Miller Research Fellow.

Prime received his doctorate and master’s from the Department of War Studies at King’s College London. His thesis, currently being adapted for publication, explored the work of J.C. Wylie and the development of the theory of strategy as control.

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.

The 2025 Arter-Rowland National Security Forum is sponsored by: