2021 ACFR Annual Conference
We held our
25th Annual ACFR Conference
in Washington, DC
on November 4 – 5, 2021
“U.S. Global Leadership:
The Next 25 Years”
Conference Details
Thursday, November 4, 2021
Early Arrival Event
at theMorrison Clark Inn
10:30 am to 12:00pm
Dr. David Mussington, Executive Assistant Director for Infrastructure Security, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Dr. Mussington discussed the nature of the threats facing the United States as well as actions being taken to address them. His remarks were followed by a Q&A session.
Reception at Meridian International Center
Thursday evening, November 4, 2021
6:00pm to 8:00pm
at:
1630 Crescent Pl NW
Washington, DC 20009
Friday, November 5, 2021
The second, full-day of the Conference and Banquet included two Keynotes, a Morning Panel (“Geopolitical Priorities”), and an Afternoon Panel (“Transnational Challenges”).
Details below
Conference Program
8:00am – 4:30pm
at
The University Club of Washington DC
1135 -16th St. NW
Washington DC 20036
Distinguished Service Award Banquet
6:00am – 9:00 pm
at:
The National Press Club
529 14th Street NW
Washington DC 20045
Program Agenda: Speakers and Times
Opening Keynote
(9:00 AM to 9:45 AM)
General Charles Wald, USAF (ret.) – President of Jones Group Middle East and former Deputy Commander of United States European Command (EUCOM)
Morning Panel – Geopolitical Priorities
(10:00 AM to 11:20 AM)
Richard Fontaine – Chief Executive Officer of the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), previously serving at the State Department, the National Security Council, and on the staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Michael O’Hanlon – Senior Fellow and Director of Research in Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution
Danielle Pletka – Senior Vice President of Foreign and Defense Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI)
(Moderator) Ali Wyne – Senior Analyst with the Global Macro teanm at Eurasia Group, Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council, and Nonresident Fellow at the Modern War Institute
Afternoon Panel – Transnational Challenges
(1:15 PM to 3:00 PM)
Nile Gardiner – Director of the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom, specializing in Europe, Global Politics, and Terrorism,` at the Heritage Foundation
Andrew Selee – President of the Migration Policy Institute.
Victoria Coates – Director and Senior Analyst for the Middle East and North Africa at the Center for Security Policy, former Senior Advisor at the Department of Energy, and former Deputy National Security Advisor at the NSC.
(Moderator) Thomas E. Garrett – Secretary General of the Community of Democracies.
Closing Keynote
(3:00 PM to 3:45 PM)
Lise Grande – President and CEO of the US Institute of Peace
Special Note for Friends of ACFR Past Conference Speakers and experts in the field are encouraged to attend the conference.
Conference Registration
Full Conference for ACFR Committee Members & Guests included Meridian International Center reception, conference program, and DSA Banquet (11/4-11/5):
- $425 Early Registration (until October 31, 2021)
- $300 Full Registration (Enrolled students only)
- $160 Distinguished Service Award Banquet Only
Distinguished Service Award (2020 / 2021)
Ambassador Thomas A. Shannon, Jr.
The Board of Directors of the American Committees on Foreign Relations hereby names the Ambassador Thomas A. Shannon the recipient of ACFR’s 2020-2021 Distinguished Service Award for the Advancement of Public Discourse on Foreign Policy, for his service of exemplary public service in foreign policy spanning over three decades, and his continued contribution to advance a constructive debate on U.S. foreign policy.
Ambassador Thomas A. Shannon, Jr. brings more than three decades of government service and diplomatic experience to his practice, providing strategic counsel to clients across a range of legislative, foreign policy, and national security issues.
Most recently, Ambassador Shannon served as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, the third-highest position at the State Department. Holding the personal rank of Career Ambassador, he was the highest-ranking member of the United States Foreign Service, the country’s professional diplomatic corps. During his tenure as Under Secretary, Ambassador Shannon was in charge of bilateral and multilateral foreign policymaking and implementation, and oversaw diplomatic activity globally and in our missions to international organizations. He managed the State Department during the presidential transition, led bilateral and strategic stability talks with the Russian Federation, worked with our allies to oversee Iranian compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, and expanded US engagement in Central Asia, among other things.
Prior to that appointment, he served as Counselor of the Department, where he acted as a troubleshooter and roving envoy for Secretary of State John Kerry. In that capacity, he focused on Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, and led US support for the UN-sponsored peace processes in Yemen and South Sudan. Ambassador Shannon spent nearly 35 years in the Foreign Service, and has served 6 US presidents and 11 secretaries of state.
Prior to his 2016 appointment by President Obama as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Ambassador Shannon was the United States Ambassador to Brazil. Prior to this appointment, Ambassador Shannon served as Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs from 2005-2009. He served as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the National Security Council (2003-2005), Deputy Assistant Secretary of Western Hemisphere Affairs at the Department of State (2002-2003), and Director of Andean Affairs (2001-2002). From 2000-2001, he was US Deputy Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States, with the rank of Ambassador. During his career, Ambassador Shannon served in the US Foreign Service at embassies in Guatemala, Brazil, South Africa, and Venezuela.
Conference Hotel
Morrison-Clark Inn & Restaurant
1011 L Street NW, Washington D.C.
Conference Hotel Reservation
ACFR’s conference hotel was the Morrison-Clark Hotel Historic Inn & Restaurant.
