Through one of our most valued partnerships with the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, AHS led our sixth student delegation to the Reagan National Defense Forum (RNDF) on December 6th and 7th in Simi Valley, California. RNDF is the nation’s premier defense policy forum which brings together our nation’s foremost defense leaders to address the health of our national defense and to promote policies to strengthen U.S. military capabilities. 15 of our top student leaders from 13 universities participated in this year’s delegation.
AHS Delegation meeting with former U.S. Senator Samuel Nunn (D-GA) of the Nuclear Threat Initiative
“Not only did the RNDF give me a better understanding of the inner-workings of our government, but it also afforded me an avenue for career development. Seeking career advice and receiving multiple paths that one can take to work in government gave me hope and the ammunition necessary for my career.”
The 2019 RNDF brought together over 650 participants from key communities that shape out national defense outlook including Members of Congress, civilian and military leaders of the Department of Defense, current and former administration officials, scholars, and many more for a weekend long conference on the urgent and enduring questions of national security. Among this year’s distinguished speakers were Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien. Numerous other security leaders spoke on panels covering an array of topics including nuclear deterrence, national security innovation, and the future of space policy.
Students studying U.S. defense strategy implementation with Beacon Global Strategies’s Eric Sayers
Students meet with Congressman Mike Gallagher (R-WI)
The student delegates attended expert panel discussions ranging from the defense industrial base to the role of alliances in the age of great power competition. Listening to thoughtful and open deliberations on such complex dilemmas as deterring Chinese maritime aggrandizement and restricting nuclear proliferation, the students left the conference with a broadened awareness of American security strategy. In preparation, the students participated in a seminar exploring the implementation of U.S. defense strategy under Beacon Global Strategies’s Eric Sayers.
National defense leaders also held personal conversations with our students, including this year’s recipient of the Peace Through Strength Award, former Senator Sam Nunn (D-GA) of the Nuclear Threat Initiative, Elbridge Colby of the Marathon Initiative, and Congressman Lt. Gen. (ret.) Jack Bergman (R-MI). Candidly outlining the ambitions and talents which brought them success in public service, these accomplished figures provided our students with uncommon support in establishing their own career goals.
Review the list of distinguished RNDF attendees HERE
View videos from the many different panels at the Forum HERE
Read more about the work of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute HERE
Students listen to Congressman Jack Bergman (R-MI)
Students hear from Ambassador Eric Edelman
“This opportunity was unlike any other event I could even attempt to attend during my time in college. The Forum brought together our nation’s top leaders in the defense world in a format that was both informative and enjoyable. In a matter of 24 hours, I was able to meet many of those who work to keep our country safe every day from legislating to creating military objectives.”
