Dear and Distinguished Colleagues,
Good afternoon from the small, but growing Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies.
Over the past two+ months the TSC has surged in executive education, strategic engagement, provided support to research, obligated FY22 Congressional appropriation, and gained new members. In executive education, the TSC completed 2 X full Arctic Region Security Orientation Courses (and underway in a 3rd course this week) that have averaged more than 60 participants per class. In strategic engagement, the TSC partnered with the George C. Marshall Center for European Security Studies (GCMC) for an important workshop on the developing security environment of the European high North, plus supported international engagement/outreach workshops in Nuuk Greenland, Reykjavik Iceland, Kingston, Ontario and Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada as well as events in Anchorage and Colorado Springs. With the recent onboarding of the deputy lead for TSC Research & Analysis, the Center is now underway in organizing efforts for overall research, while also provided important support to the International Cooperative Engagement Program for Polar Research (ICE-PPR). The TSC is also advancing special programs as outlined in the POAM.
We were honored to host the Acting Deputy Assistant SecDef for Arctic & Global Resilience for substantial orientation between South Central, Interior and North Slope Alaska, while supporting a recent visit from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. The Center also supported Congressional staff delegations hosted by Alaskan Command and 11th Airborne Division (Arctic).
While continuing to prosecute the 9 Feb 2022 approved Plans, Objectives and Milestones (POAM) the TSC have significantly revised the prior POAM to create a new edition, dated 29 Oct 2022. This updated document addresses the October 2022 releases of the U.S. National Security Strategy, National Strategy for the Arctic Region, and National Defense Strategy. The new POAM also addresses the draft strategic guidance under consideration by Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs, while incorporating the 12 July 2022 Commander, USNORTHCOM signed guidance and priorities. In parallel with the updated POAM is also the updated TSC Fiscal Year 23 Annual plan. Both POAM and Annual Plan are under review and coordination at the Deputy Assistant SecDef (DASD) Arctic & Global Resilience and USNORTHCOM J5. More to follow on this...but this does help the small but growing TSC accomplish its campaign of "building while doing."
Ongoing and new TSC Executive/Practitioner Education: On the education front, please know w have new opportunities for our fundamentals "ARSOC" participation...please see the associated attached flyer & We also have a new "Arctic Maritime Law" Course coming up in early December. The current flyer for that new class is attached for your reference. As is with all TSC education efforts...these are for Defense Allies and Security Partners and U.S. practitioners as well.
We are also honored to announce the following 2 new opportunities for information and collaboration:
- New Webinar Series: The TSC is launching a new webinar series titled "Hot Topics and Cold Facts for the High North." This new series is produced in collaboration with the Woodrow Wilson Center Polar Institute. This new series is a revitalization of the prior "Arctic Security Dialogues" partnered between the Polar Institute and the Arctic Domain Awareness Center. Accordingly, planned webinar moderators include myself and & Dr. Mike Sfraga, Chair & Distinguished Fellow, Polar Institute; Chair, US Arctic Research Commission. Our first event is 15 Nov 2022 from 12:30-2 PM Eastern, in support of the “Newport Manual on Arctic Security” authored by Dr. Walter Berbrick, Professor & Director at the U.S. Naval War College, Dr. Gaëlle Rivard Piché, Strategic analyst with Defence Research & Development Canada, and Col Michael Zimmerman, Former Staff Judge Advocate for U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa. Please register at: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItc-ugqj8tEgLIkg8G3PdEc189cY76rI4
- New Professional Journal: The TSC is developing a partnership with Air University Press at Maxwell AFB Alabama for the new "Journal of Arctic and Climate Security Studies" (JACSS). This new journal provides an opportunity for authors to contribute to the developing community focused on Defense and Security Concerns. We are now planning the inaugural edition and respectfully offer the following update for authors to consider: Features – 6000 word max; Articles / Perspectives – 4000-4500 words; Commentaries – 2000-3000 words. Submission deadline is 13 January 2023 and the primary site to submit is "." Our planned publishing date is now planned for Mid-March 2023. Please see the attached graphic.