Arter-Rowland National Security Forum focuses on geospatial intelligence

Mr. Ralph Erwin, the strategic advisor for Tesla Government, Inc., delivers his presentation on geospatial intelligence for the Arter-Rowland National Security Forum luncheon event on Sept. 29, 2022, at the Carriage Club in Kansas City.The CGSC Foundation’s Simons Center hosted an Arter-Rowland National Security Forum luncheon event on Sept. 29, 2022, at the Carriage Club in Kansas City.

Simons Center Deputy Director John Nelson welcomed the ARNSF members, some of whom also introduced their guests, and then introduced the guest speaker, Mr. Ralph Erwin.

Mr. Ralph Erwin, the strategic advisor for Tesla Government, Inc., delivers his presentation on geospatial intelligence for the Arter-Rowland National Security Forum luncheon event on Sept. 29, 2022, at the Carriage Club in Kansas City.

Top photo and above – Mr. Ralph Erwin, the strategic advisor for Tesla Government, Inc., delivers his presentation on geospatial intelligence for the Arter-Rowland National Security Forum luncheon event on Sept. 29, 2022, at the Carriage Club in Kansas City.

In this presentation of the forum, Erwin, the Strategic Advisor for Tesla Government, Inc., provided an overview of geospatial intelligence. He discussed how geospatial intelligence is one of the U.S. government’s intelligence disciplines that supports the National Security Strategy, the National Defense Strategy, and the National Intelligence Strategy. He also explained how the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Secretary of Defense combine with other elements of national power to use geospatial intelligence for the security of the nation and its allies.

Erwin currently serves as the Strategic Advisor for Tesla Government, Inc. He recently retired from federal civilian service as an associate professor at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC). During that assignment he was a distinguished intelligence community officer and the senior geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) officer serving with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) supporting all U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command organizations, including CGSC.

In 2011, Erwin was a strategic mentor to the Afghan Geodesy and Cartography Head Office in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Erwin began serving the nation as an Army artillery officer in Korea, Germany, and the United States. He is a graduate of Wentworth Military Academy, Cameron University, and the U.S. Army War College.

After the presentation and a question and answer period, Nelson presented Erwin with a new Simons Center coffee mug in appreciation for his time with the Forum. He closed out the luncheon with a short brief about the schedule for future gatherings.

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 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.


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