ARNSF celebrates the year end with holiday social

The CGSC Foundation’s Simons Center hosted an Arter-Rowland National Security Forum holiday social event on Dec. 9, 2025, at the Carriage Club in Kansas City. The event featured a farewell presentation by Col. (Ret.) Bob Ulin, who is stepping down as the leader of the Forum, and also remarks by Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Milford H. Beagle, Jr., the former commandant of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and commander of Fort Leavenworth.

Col. (Ret.) Bob Ulin, founding CEO of the CGSC Foundation and its major program the Simons Center, provides farewell remarks at the Dec. 9, 2025, Holiday Social for the Arter-Rowland National Security Forum. Ulin established the Forum in 2005 and is now retiring, but will continue as an ARNSF member.

After the social period CGSC Foundation President/CEO Lora Morgan kicked off the formal part of the evening by thanking Ulin for making his vision of the Forum come to life over the first five years since its inception in September 2000. Ulin spoke, joking of how his now 5th retirement might actually last, but also brought the CGSC Foundation team to the front of the room and thanked them publicly for their work in making the Forum a success.

Ulin will remain involved with the Forum as a member. The Foundation’s new Simons Center Director, Col. (Ret.) Todd Schmidt, will take over leadership of the Forum beginning in 2026.

Lt. Gen. Beagle spoke after Ulin and talked about the value of the Foundation and thanked the members of the Forum for their contributions.

Col. (Ret.) Bob Ulin brings forward the Foundation team that worked with him to administer the Arter-Rowland National Security Forum to thank them publicly during his remarks at the ARNSF holiday social event on Dec. 9, 2025. Ulin is stepping down as the leader of the Forum. From left: Ulin (at podium), Foundation President/CEO Lora Morgan, Simons Center Senior Research Fellow John Nelson, Foundation Director of Operations Stephenie Cole, and Foundation Assistant Operations Officer Elizabeth Hill.

CGSC Foundation President/CEO Lora Morgan presents Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Milford H. Beagle, Jr., with the newest Foundation holiday ornament in appreciation for his time with the Forum during the ARNSF holiday social on Dec. 9, 2025. All ARNSF members also received an ornament in appreciation for their membership.

“Where [government] funding stops, that’s where the Foundation comes in,” Beagle said. “What we’re investing in is our future leaders and their families, our international partners and the faculty. When you need somebody to help open a door or build a bridge that can’t be built any other way, that’s why you have a foundation. The return on that investment will be over decades. I want to say thank you to the Foundation trustees, to members and friends of the Foundation for all the investments you’ve made.”

At the conclusion Morgan presented Beagle with the newest Foundation holiday ornament in appreciation for his time with the Forum. All ARNSF members also received an ornament in appreciation for their membership.

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 the CGSC Foundation.

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